‘The Greatest Town On Earth’ Is The Theme For The North Bay’s Biggest Fourth Of July Bash

NOVATO, CA — The City of Novato, which claims to put on the biggest Independence Day celebration in all of the North Bay each year, has opened registration Wednesday for those wanting to participate in the parade, according to a press release.

The 2025 theme is “The Greatest Town On Earth” and the registration period will be open until June 15.

The family of Kathy Nickel, the longtime chair of the event, will serve as the grand marshall this year after being selected by the all-volunteer committee. Nickel died three days after last year’s parade and she was remembered as the “spiritual inspiration for the volunteers who donate their time to run the nonprofit group that puts on the parade,” a press release stated.

Each year the Novato parade attracts upwards of 10,000 spectators, the press release stated.

The parade will start at 10 a.m. on Grant Avenue at the intersection of Reichert Avenue in Downtown Novato and runs west to seventh street.

Before the parade begins, the Presbyterian Church of Novato will host the annual Buckaroo Breakfast in the parking lot of Redwood Credit Union at the intersection of Grant Avenue and First Street.