Family Fun: Camden-Palo Verde July 4 Parade! (video)

July 4, 2014

In this time of turmoil and division, how about a bit of Americana and togetherness?

Tomorrow is the 53rd annual Camden-Palo Verde 4th of July Parade. According to Palo Verde Neighborhood lore, two women cooked up the 4th of July parade idea as a way to keep the kids busy on a hot summer day.

Camden-Palo Verde Parade
Jim (looking like Uncle Sam with a cowboy hat) and grandson William receive our 2nd place award in the float category in 2012. At the top is our 2013 entry. (It’s amazing what you can do with a garden cart.)

In 2004, when I downsized my life (after being laid-off) and bought my little 1933 adobe in the Palo Verde Neighborhood, I had no idea about it’s place in history. Victor and Sylvia Sloan were the original owners of our house, and Sylvia was one of the parade founders, along with local singer Andy Hersey’s grandmother, who lived down the street.

Fifty-three years later, the parade is still going strong. The neighborhood association does a great job of organizing this event. They even bring out display boards with historic photos of the parade. There are old B&W photos of women with beehive hairdos sitting on our front porch smoking and watching the children.

Pancake breakfast starts at 7:30 a.m. at 3412 E. Fairmont (west of Palo Verde). Parade registration for the parade begins at 8:30 a.m. at the same location.

Jim and I will be there with treats and bike stickers. Too bad our grandchildren are out of town. 🙂

Wear a costume, decorate your bike, build a float! Come on down.

Camden-Palo Verde Parade
Second place again in the float category in 2014.
Camden-Palo Verde 4th of July parade
Jim, William and me with our friend and neighbor Shari, 2012.
Mark Stegeman, Jim Hannley, Ward 6 City Councilman Steve Kozachik, and Mayor Jonathan Rothschild, 2013.
TUSD Board Member Mark Stegeman, Jim Hannley, Ward 6 City Councilman Steve Kozachik, and Mayor Jonathan Rothschild, 2013.
Camden-Palo Verde Parade
Bike decorations.