The Novato Fourth of July Parade is less than three months away, and the all-volunteer committee is welcoming entries and volunteers. The annual cry of “come one, come all” dovetails perfectly with the theme of this year’s parade, “Love Where You Love … Make a Difference.”
The largest Independence Day parade in the North Bay attracts upwards of 10,000 spectators and hundreds of participants within its 75-100 official entries. It starts at 10 a.m. on Grant Avenue at Reichert Avenue in the heart of Old Town and runs west for approximately seven-tenths of a mile to Seventh Street. There are four announcer stands along the route and a panel of judges to award top prizes.
The parade entry form is now on the event website, and entries are starting to flow in. The all-volunteer parade committee is encouraging civic organizations, nonprofits, schools, performance troupes, businesses, and anyone with a creative float idea tied to the love-infused parade theme. The judging categories are: Classic Vehicle; Horse, Animal Performance; Marching Unit; Non-commercial; and Commercial.
Questions about entries or parade policies may be submitted through the website as well.
Contrary to a popular belief, the parade is not put on by the city government or a business organization. The not-for-profit parade is planned and staged by volunteers who get together year-round to assure a first-class hometown event. Those willing to donate their time on the Fourth of July may be assigned to duties such as traffic monitoring, barricade and trash can placement, temporary signage installation, barricade supervising, and post-parade cleanup.
Typically, it takes 60-80 volunteers to run a safe and smooth event. It’s an excellent opportunity for high school students to accumulate community service to boost a resume. Service organizations, houses of worship, and other civic groups are encouraged to round up a handful of people to assist with the parade.
Consider signing up and “Make a Difference” today. A mandatory orientation meeting for volunteers will take place July 3. Email questions about volunteering to NovatoParadeVolunteer@gmail.com.
More parade information is on novatoparade.com.
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