Posts by Downtown Alameda Business Association

After a two year pandemic pause, the best hometown celebration is back! Alameda’s 4th of July Parade is the longest in the nation. Watch as more than 146 entries travel along Park Street before proceeding to Webster Street. Spectators will marvel at the huge variety of hand-decorated flatbeds, antique cars, marching bands, dance troupes, bicyclists, musicians, community groups, costumed characters, and dancing horses.

The 2022 Grand Marshals are the four members of Alameda’s Police Reform and Racial Equity Steering Committee – Christine Chilcott, Al Mance, Cheryl Taylor and Jolene Wright. Their tireless efforts, and work of more than 50 community volunteers who met for 3,000+ collective hours, resulted in a series of police reform and racial equity recommendations that the City Council unanimously approved in 2021. Among the recommendations is Alameda’s new CARE Team (Community Assessment Response & Engagement), run by specially trained Alameda Fire Department paramedics and Alameda Family Services‘ mental health clinicians who respond to calls for service foe mental health, substance abuse and homelessness issues.

The parade starts at 10:00am at the corner of Park Street and Lincoln Avenue. Some of the best viewing spots are along Park Street where the performances, cheering, and flag waving are especially exciting along the first stretch of the parade. For a front row seat along the sidewalks, plan to arrive well before the parade’s start time.

And, if you’re in want of a refreshment or are looking to do a little shopping this July 4th (or any day of the year), you’ll find a parade of locally-owned businesses in the downtown district, from breakfast spots to bookstores to antique treasures and more.

Check out the City’s Parade Program for more information on the parade, including the route map and the official line-up of entries.