Fourth of July Parade, Alameda, California

What could be a better way to celebrate the Fourth of July than going to a parade?  We spent the holiday this year in the San Francisco Bay area and joined friends in Alameda, California, an island community near Oakland, to watch the city’s famous parade, the second largest and longest Independence Day parade in the nation. Featuring 2,500 participants and 130 floats, the Alameda parade is truly a community celebration.  People line the 3.3 mile parade route, setting up lawn chairs and sitting on the curb to watch the spectacle, which includes patriotic floats (ranging from decorated pick-up trucks to huge flat-bed vehicles with whole orchestras on the back), horses, dogs, dancers, classic cars, old-fashioned high-wheel bicycles, Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, swim and soccer teams, stilt walkers, marching bands, and many more.  For winners and a gallery of photos, click here.

Rhythmix Cultural Works, Winner of the Mayor's Trophy

My granddaughter’s favorites were the prancing horses and the people handing out candy and tiny flags.  Earlier in the day the Alameda parade route was used for a charity 5K run.  After the parade, people continued the celebration in a local park with music, games and more.  We headed home for a picnic in the park.  Altogether, it was a glorious Fourth!