Late May is prime time to send in entries for the Novato Fourth of July Parade or sign up to serve as an event volunteer.
The all-volunteer parade committee is encouraging civic organizations, nonprofits, schools, performance troupes, businesses, and anyone with a creative float idea tied to “A Nation of Innovation,” the theme for this year’s Independence Day parade down Grant Avenue in Novato. The judging categories are: Classic Vehicle; Horse, Animal Performance; Marching Unit; Non-commercial; and Commercial.
Signing up is an all-online affair. Just go novatoparade.com and “registration.” Questions may be submitted through the website as well.
Those willing to donate their time 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 hours that are required to graduate. Service organizations, houses of worship, and other civic groups are encouraged to round up a handful of people to assist with the parade. A mandatory orientation meeting for volunteers will take place July 3. Email questions about volunteering to NovatoParadeVolunteer@gmail.com.
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.
More parade information is on novatoparade.com.
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