​Volunteers Sought For Novato's July 4 Parade

NOVATO, CA — Novato is readying for the return its annual Fourth of July Parade, and organizers are recruiting volunteers for one of the Bay Area’s most storied summer events.

Parade organizers are appealing to residents, businesses, service organizations, schools, and nonprofits to serve as parade-day volunteers.

The all-volunteer nonprofit committee is hosting the parade starting at 10 a.m. July 4 on Grant Avenue.

The theme of this year’s parade is Celebrate Kindness.

The parade in pre-pandemic times typically attracted between 10,000 and 20,000 visitors.

The parade route is about seven-tenths of a mile and will include special event vendors and portable toilets.

There will be pre-parade entertainment and PA announcers as well.

The Independence Day celebration march starts at Grant and Reichert avenues and concludes at Grant and 7th avenues.

Historians trace the annual celebration of American independence to the early 20th Century, and possibly as far back as the 1800s.

For the first time, online registration for parade entries is available here.

The parade will feature entries in the categories of: Classic Vehicle; Horse, Animal; Performance; Marching; Non-commercial; and Commercial. Cash prizes are awarded for the top three entries in each category.

Volunteers are needed for a variety of duties. Teenage students are reminded that community service hours, required for public high school graduation, are available for parade volunteers.

Email volunteer@novatoparade.com.

Visitors are asked not to bring pets to the parade unless they are part of a parade entry.

Visitors are urged to adhere to special event parking restrictions in the downtown area.

To learn more about this event, visit here.