Napa will be on the march on the Fourth

By KEVIN COURTNEY
Register Staff Writer

It won’t overshadow Macy’s Thanksgiving Day extravaganza in New York City, but it won’t be an embarrassment either.

Downtown Napa’s Fourth of July parade, which last year lasted the blink of an eye, this year will be totally respectable, said Doris Gentry, the event coordinator.

“We have everything. You name it, we got it,” said Gentry, who expects to send more than 50 parade entries marching, floating or rumbling down Third Street on Saturday morning.

Actually, the parade won’t have everything, Gentry conceded. Try as she did, there won’t be a full-blown marching band with trumpets and tubas.

When Napa Sunrise Rotary took over parade sponsorship only months ago, all the likely marching bands had already been snapped up by more established parades, Gentry said.

Viewers can expect to see Americana, Napa-style, on parade, minus the marching band which will be there next year, she said.

There will be fire engines and equestrian units, twirlers and gymnasts, fancy trucks and cars, a giant American flag and an ornate float featuring Dr. Seuss’ Horton the Elephant and the creatures of Whoville, Gentry said.

Wells Fargo Bank will bring a horse-drawn stagecoach to town, evoking Napa’s pioneer heritage when a Wells Fargo agent operated out of a saloon on First Street, she said.

The parade starts at 11:30 a.m. on Third and School streets. Participants will march down Third Street to Main Street, turn right, then come back by way of Fifth Street, Coombs Street and Fourth Street.

Next year’s parade will be bigger yet, Gentry said. Based on this year’s success, organizers hope to move the 2010 parade to First Street, Napa’s traditional route, she said.

The parade is part of a day of community activities downtown, culminating in a fireworks show at dusk. There will be refreshments and children’s entertainment all afternoon near the intersection of Third and Main streets.

Music entertainment starts at 1 p.m. in Veterans Memorial Park with the Brian Cline Band. Also performing are Alvon Johnson and his All-Star Band, with the Time Bandits headlining.

From 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., performers from the Napa School of Music will be center stage.

At 7:30 p.m., Napa Mayor Jill Techel will welcome the crowd, followed by a ceremony by the Travis Air Force Base Color Guard. Youth bands will perform until 9 p.m.

For more information about Fourth of July entertainment, call 257-9529.

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