48th Annual Independence Day Parade Another Success

The 48th Piedmont Independence Day parade and picnic was another in a long tradition of local fun. The paraded opened with the Piedmont police and fire departments followed by the Zenith New Orleans Parade Band.

What would a parade down Highland Avenue be without bagpipe bands? The parade featured three this year: the Piedmont Youth Bagpipe Band, the Piedmont Highlander Drums & Pipes, and the Stewart Tartan Pipes & Drums of San Francisco. The Piedmont Youth Bagpipes took best band award in the parade.

 

 

There were also perennial favorites the Piedmont Community Band, the Balloon Platoon, the Piedmont Basketball Foundation, Piedmont Baseball Softball Foundation, Raiderettes, Children’s Fairyland, the Oakland Zoo, the East Bay SPCA, and of course, candy.

We also had our new principals for both the middle school and the high school in the parade.

The floats! Excellent entries this year from the Ramona/Ronada Neighbors (Spirit and Highland Cup winner), San Carlos Avenue (Theme and Highland Saucer winner).

 

After the parade the picnic commenced, starting with the Pledge of Allegiance, the National Anthem, the invocation by Rabbi Mark Bloom, then Pride & Joy again provided great music.

Overall, another wonderful year. Some suggestions to make it even better:

• Less cars! And no cars made after 1959. There were 45 cars this year, plus cars that carried the politicians, the historical society, PEF, and others.
• More bands.
• More mounted units. I remember 3 units some years, this year there was only one, the California Pinto Rangers.
• Add red chalk lines on the streets (where the flags are set up) to help keep people back off the parade route. I think it was unclear that the flags marked the boundary.
• Less candy. Loved that PAINTS gave out crayons.

Thanks to the Piedmont residents, city staff, and all the organizers and sponsors for putting on another excellent celebration.