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Community Corner

Clowns Lead the Parade

It's a Healdsburg tradition that's 62 years old -- the annual FFA Parade, held on Memorial Day weekend to kick off the Healdsburg County Fair

Don’t be surprised if you see a lot of red rubber noses and polka-dot pantaloons cavorting down Center Street this Thursday evening. “Send in the Clowns” is the theme of this year’s parade, which begins at 6 pm on May 26 at East and Matheson.

The parade has been an Healdsburg tradition for 62 years, since the late 1940. Now it’s as healthy as ever, with between 110 and 120 entrants expected, according to Susie Garcia of the Fair Board’s parade committee.

“The Shriner band will be here again,” said Garcia. “They’ve been here since the beginning, more or less. They probably won’t be marching, though, but riding.”  Other marching bands in clued the Healdsburg Jr. and High School Marching Band, combined from the two schools.

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The theme, “Send in the Clowns,” is a tribute to the Swan Brothers Circus, popular participants in the County Fair for over 20 years. Also known as Zippy and Hi-Tops, the Swan brothers cobble together a circus with a dog or two and some props that owes more to imagination than to a menagerie. Mike Swan passed away earlier this year, but his brother Andy and a replacement clown will be present to act as honorary Parade Marshalls, and once again entertain the town citizens at the fairgrounds.

Lou Colombano, another long-time parade participant, will again be on hand with his antique vehicles. Other entrants include the Fire Department, hot rods, drill teams, community martial arts classes and more.

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Though Healdsburg residents and visitors often claim their space along the parade route from early morning on, the parade itself doesn’t begin until 6:00 pm. It starts at at East Street and Matheson, though participants in line up at from 4:30 in the staging area down East Street toward Mason.

There is now a map in the image gallery. The parade route is as follows:

  • From St. John’s on Matheson, west to Center Street at the Plaza
  • Right on Center St., north to Piper at the
  • Right on Piper, east to Fitch.
  • Right on Fitch, south to Matheson at the .
  • Left on Matheson, east to University.

“Ideally, we’d like it to take about an hour,” said Garcia. “But it has taken longer.”

Although the parade disperses at Matheson and University, most participants – and may of the onlookers – make their next stop the Healdsburg County Fair, at at Piper and University. Stock animals raised and cared for by FFA members as well as other exhibits are on display, along with a Midway featuring family games, rides and food booths from local vendors.

The fair and midway officially opens at 7pm on Thursday, and remains open Friday and Saturday  from 8am until 9:30pm. For complete schedule and information, visit the Healdsburg Fair website.

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