Photos From Cherry Festival Parade: Beaumont School District Wins Sweepstakes Float Entry

BEAUMONT, CA — The Beaumont Unified School District made a grand showing at the annual Cherry Festival Parade in 2025 with a total of eight entries, the district announced. This year, participants included numerous marching bands, cheer teams, five School Board members, and the elementary teacher of the year, Ms. Carrie Griffin, among others, according to the district's spokesperson, Thomas Guzowski.

Still, the District’s well-decorated school bus impressed the crowds, drawing cheers and fanfare, winning the "Sweepstakes," the highest award that any float entry can receive.

The Beaumont USD transportation department won “sweepstakes,” the highest award any float entry can receive. The float consisted of a decorated 35-foot-long yellow school bus packed with cheering students.

Alongside the bus was a six-foot-tall cardboard cut-out of Beaumont High School's panther mascot wearing a football uniform. Additionally, numerous other artistic references were made to the city's historic traditions and memories.

“Our goal this year was to get first place,” explained Beaumont USD Transportation Supervisor Cassandra Clausman. “We have always gone above and beyond. In a previous year, I even broke my finger setting up the float on the day of the parade!” This year, nearly 25 transportation employees were involved in “cutting, sewing, gluing, gathering supplies, and setting up,” added Clausman. Happily, all fingers were accounted for.

Darlene Rodriguez, a District employee of 23 years, drove the bus down Beaumont Avenue as students from Sundance Elementary and Summerwind Trails School waved to the crowds from inside. Several other students marched in front of the bus carrying a banner that read “Sweet Traditions, Strong Community,” which was this year’s festival theme.

The annual Cherry Festival and Parade is a four-day celebration including live musical performances and numerous vendors.

Both City of Beaumont Parks and Recreation Manager Ashley Starr and Recreation Coordinator Heather Harwood shared their thoughts on the win in a statement.

“Since the City of Beaumont assumed coordination of the parade from the Rotary Club in 2025, we’ve placed a strong emphasis on community through this year’s theme: Sweet Traditions, Strong Community," they said. "Having the Beaumont Unified School District participate not only engages our youth, but also honors the incredible role students, teachers, and schools play in shaping our city’s future."

Beaumont USD Board President Melissa Williamson, who participated in this year’s parade, expressed similar sentiments. She shared that the District has such a big presence in the parade because it is a way to “engage with the local community, celebrate its students, and reinforce its role as a cornerstone of Beaumont's cultural heritage.”

Clausman described what happened when they heard the news. “When we found out we won sweepstakes, there were drivers actually crying from joy and just the satisfaction of winning after many years."