Parade salutes SCC’s 100th anniversary

With underwriting from the City of Sonoma, Rotary Club of Sonoma Valley and Sonoma Market and hundreds of donations from parade entrants, the 52nd annual Fourth of July Parade and Plaza Celebration is set to begin at 10 a.m. Saturday, July 4.

As usual, the parade will come down First Street East to Napa Street to First Street West.

In celebration of the Sonoma Community Center building’s 100th anniversary, the theme for this year’s parade is “A Century of Community – Celebrating Through the Decades.” Participation in the parade is open to the public, and all family-friendly entries are invited to participate in the parade that highlights a favorite era or event in the last 100 years.

The Community Center will start the parade with its float for this year, designed by the center’s special projects manager Margaret Hatcher and built by past board president Jack Lundgren.

In honor of the center’s visionary founder, Carroll Andrews, members of the Andrews Family have been selected as grand marshals. Other parade dignitaries will include Alcaldesa Marcie Waldron, Treasure Artist Thena Trygstad, Mayor David Cook and members of the Sonoma City Council, and 1st District Supervisor Susan Gorin.

As the parade nears its end, the Hometown Band will perform in the Plaza until dignitaries are honored during a patriotic ceremony at 11:45 a.m.

Throughout the day, nonprofit organizations from throughout Sonoma Valley will raise money by running game booths for all ages and serving traditional carnival fare – hot dogs, hamburgers, turkey legs, ice cream sandwiches, snow cones, popcorn, cotton candy and iced coffee.

Live music on the grass will begin at 1 p.m. with Never Fear Band, followed by The Cork Pullers at 3 p.m.

Beer and wine will be for sale from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., with all proceeds benefiting Sonoma Community Center. Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) will give a commemorative reusable stainless steel pint cup to the first 500 attendees to purchase a beer. “We’re excited to be a part of this year’s festivities and to give back to the Sonoma Community. This is a great opportunity to say ‘Thank you!’ to our Sonoma business customers as our important gas pipeline upgrades take place in the downtown square,” said John Ghigliazza, senior manager, Sonoma Division Energy Solutions Service department of PG&E.

For more information about the Fourth of July Parade and Celebration, including parade entry forms, visit sonomacommunitycenter.org, call 938-4626, ext. 1, or stop by the Sonoma Community Center office at 276 E. Napa St. in Sonoma.