Media Resources
This page is reserved for members of the media who need resources for reporting on the Alameda Mayor's Forth of July Parade. All materials on this page are copyrighted, and available to the media only.
Quick Links:
Background information:
The Alameda 4th of July Parade is the second largest and longest Independence Day parade in the nation. With over 170 floats and 2,500 participants who travel a three mile route, the parade has become the central activity of the Bay Area's Fourth of July weekend.
The parade boasts the longest route in the United States, drawing over 20,000 spectators from the region. Parade entries cross the full spectrum of Bay Area residents includes:
- Equestrians
- Dance troops
- Floats and antique cars
- A large variety of bands
Many community members host front yard barbeques where their friends and family come together to watch the Parade. It is a tradition for many families to return to the same spot along the Parade route to celebrate the Fourth of July year after year.
The Mayor’s 4th of July Parade was voted the “Best Hometown Celebration” for 2007 and "Best Hometown Parade" for 2008 by the East Bay Express. They proclaimed the parade “…a bit of Kansas right here in the East Bay.”
BEST HOMETOWN PARADE 2008 Alameda Fourth of July Parade
"Everybody loves a parade, and Alameda's annual Mayor's Fourth of July extravaganza — always on July 4, no matter what the day, natch — attracts some 20,000 spectators, or roughly one-third of the city's population. Everyone and then some are there to wave flags and witness color guards, marching bands, baton twirlers, classic cars, horses, politicians, veterans, and floats, floats, floats. The parade route is longer than three miles, allowing the city to claim it as the longest parade procession ever, which no one bothers to challenge. Families and friends lucky enough to live on the parade route host barbecues as the spectacle winds past, while others from Alameda and throughout the Bay Area contentedly nab spots along coveted stretches of Park Street, Grand, Central and Otis for optimal viewing. This event epitomizes Americana at its finest and is the best hometown parade going in the East Bay, no question. Makes you proud to be an American."
Contacts:
Media
Guy Smith
510-521-4477
Email
Chairperson
Barbara Price
510-263-9399
Email
This year's parade
| All activities occur on Monday, July 4th, 2011. | |
| Alameda Race: | Starts at 9:45AM (www.alamedarace.com) |
| Parade: | Starts at 10AM |
| Jumpin' & Jivin' Jubilee: | Starts noon and runs until 4:00pm |
POSTER: Please use the link-in image (EPS) for publication with news items.
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PSAs:
| Quick Review | Full File | |
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Television: |
NTSC ready (AVI) formatted, 4.3 MB NTSC ready (WMV) formatted, 7.4 MB H.264 ready (MOV) formatted, 45.5MB (right click on file and select "Save Target As ...") |
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Radio: |
Last year's parade
THEME: Partners in Community Service
Community service is a long and deep tradition in Alameda, and certain special residents have always contributed. We honor them this year and all those who serve their neighbors (see Grand Marshal bios for a human interest tie-in to the theme).
Grand Marshals:
Alice Lai-Baker
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| Photo Thumbnails appearing here are links to higher resolution photographs. Right-click and "Save link as ..." |
Backbround
Mrs. Lai-Bitker retired from the Alameda County Board of Supervisors December 2010. As a Supervisor for District Three which includes Alameda, San Leandro, part of Oakland and the unincorporated county of San Lorenzo and Hillcrest Knoll, Alice was a strong Advocate for expanding health care access for children and spearheading the “No Wrong Door” policy in Social Services. She inspired “A Day of Remembrance”, honoring victims of domestic violence, and assisted in getting federal funds for a Family Justice Center to streamline services to families coping with domestic violence. She also convened "Health is Not Just Health Care" group to discuss heath disparities and sponsored the Social Host Ordinance to combat underage drinking. She also sponsored the County's Green Building Ordinance in 2009. Her efforts in improve youth services, revitalize neighborhoods is well recognized.
Alice was the Co-chair of Alameda Collaborative for Youth and Families during her tenure as Supervisor, and she led many efforts in the betterment of Alameda.
Alice is a resident of Alameda with her husband Steve Bitker, daughters Mei-Ling and Janelle.
Deputy Grand Marshals:
| Dylan Moore | Bhaani Singh |
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Dylan Moore is an active and well-respected leader in Boy Scouting and an academic leader at the Alameda Community Learning Center (ACLC) where he will be starting his Senior Year this fall. Representing his classmates, the Alameda Unified School District, and the community at large, at the State Science Fair this spring is just one example of his academic achievement; and his community spirit was demonstrated when he organized and moderated a well-at tended community forum on Measure A. The Forum not only had an impact on the success of the parcel tax, but it also gave him firsthand experience in civics. Dylan also became a hero to his peers, his teachers and his community this year, when year he witnessed a medical emergency during track practice at EHS. A man had collapsed and was unconscious when Dylan came on scene, and he quickly jumped in and began resuscitation until EMTs arrived. The Parade Committee is proud to recognize Dylan’s achievements and dedication to the community by having him join us this year as one of our Deputy Grand Marshals. |
Bhaani Singh graduated from Encinal High School this spring and plans to attend Cal Berkeley. Her four years at Encinal were packed with demonstrations of her leadership abilities and commitment to serving the community. It started in her Freshman year where she served as Publicity Officer for her class, and continued as she took on leadership roles with the Alameda Red Cross Youth Club, Key Club, and City of Alameda Youth Advisory Commission (YAC), which she chaired in her Junior Year. As Encinal’s Alameda Red Cross Youth Officer Club, Bhaani coordinated the club’s Thanksgiving, Holiday Meal, and Toys For Tots projects, She also participated in the club’s making and delivering of greeting cards to seniors in convalescent homes, Health & Safety Awareness programs, and support of the Alameda Food Bank. Under her chairmanship of the YAC, the commission coordinated a city-wide collection for school supplies and back-packs for students in need. She also served as one of the four youth representatives on AUSD’s Board of Education representing Encinal High and reporting the school’s achievements and activities to the Board. We applaud Bhaani’s many accomplishments and wish her well as she heads off to Cal to pursue her goal of becoming a physician. |
Photographs:
Thumbnails appearing here are links to higher resolution photographs. Right-click on the photograph and select "Save target as ..." (Internet Explorer) or "Save link as ..." (Firefox). To view the higher resolution image, simply click on it.
Parade Committee
Committee members (left to right):
FRONT: Christina Baines, Marc Sorensen, Jeff Cambra, Barbara Price, Nicole Santilena
BACK: Ron Simmons, Gaylord Gelle, Daniel Hoy, Sam Sause, Mathew Hoffman, Jerad Kissack
NOT PICTURED: Jim Franz, Glen Anderson
Participants
Well's Fargo Stagecoach
R.A.C.E
Photos by Ed Jay Photography
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Typical Parade Entries
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| Marines and Colors | ROTC Rifle Squad | Zap Cars |
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| Chaplin on Scooter | Carriage | Bagpipe Player |
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| Marching Band Drummers | Marching Band Horns | Marching Band Flutes |
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| Horse Ballet | Cowgirl | Cowboys |
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| Music Float | Music Float | Kids on Bikes |
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| Mexican Float | Antique Fire Truck |
Spectators
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Parade committee and dignitaries
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| Mayor in Carriage |
2010 Parade pictures
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Historical
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Video:
The following video clips shows the parade and spectators. Click on "preview" for a streaming format (Microsoft WMV). Right click on "Production" and select "Save target as ..." for DV-AVI (NTSC) version.
| Floats and marchers | 310MB | ||
| Spectators | 188MB | ||
| Kids | 76MB | ||
| Misc scenes | 53MB |