User:Rwbparade

About

The Rose, White and Blue Parade is San Jose’s largest 4th of July Parade. Located on The Alameda in San Jose, CA, the parade attracts over 30,000 participants and attendees on the morning of July 4th.

Parade History

The Rose White and Blue Parade was created six years ago as a way to bring back the local tradition of rose parades in San Jose. The first rose parade, Carnival of Roses, was held in 1896. This parade lasted for four days, featured a Rose Queen, and inspired the creation of the Municipal Rose Garden in 1931. Then, in 1901, the City of San Jose planned a rose themed parade in honor of President Mckinley’s visit to the city. The parade consisted of a trip down the Alameda with every float covered in roses. Next, in 1926 the city celebrated Independence Day with the Fiesta de Las Rosas which ran from the Mission Santa Clara, down the Alameda and into San Jose. In this festival, everything lining the parade route was decorated with roses, flags and banners, and rose bushes were planted all around the city. At its peak, this parade had 87 floats, 10 bands and 200 riders with a variety of decorated cars. Nearly 250,000 spectators attended this parade until its final celebration in 1969.

Modern Day Celebrations

Today, the parade begins at Lincoln High School and winds through the charming and historic streets of the Rose Garden and Shasta/Hanchett Neighborhoods, ending on The Alameda. The parade features musical and dance groups, antique auto clubs, bicyclists, military veterans, and pets with their owners, as well as many other types of family-friendly groups. Additionally, local businesses, non-profits and activities groups set up booths at our celebration to interact with local community members in a fun or educational manner. Finally, a wonderful Grand Marshal announces the celebration. Past Grand Marshals have consisted of San Jose mayors, local newscasters, city councilmembers, Steve “Woz” Wozniak, and the San Jose Shark’s mascot “Sharkie.”

2013 Rose, White and Blue Parade

This year the Rose, White and Blue parade will be held on Thursday, July 4th at 10:00am. The parade will begin at the staging area in the Lincoln High School parking lot, where there will be a station for kids to decorate their bikes and wagon in patriotic colors. For more information about this year’s parade, please visit our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/rosewhiteblueparade.

How to Participate

If you would like to participate in the Rose, White and Blue Parade please email rwbparade@gmail.com for an application, or sign up at http://rosewhiteblueparade2013.eventbrite.com/. To volunteer at this event, please sign up at http://govoluntr.com/events/662.