Celebration Weekend Parade & Party

Opening Day Ceremony in the Words of the Ama Mutsun People
Our opening ceremony will be held in the Ama Mutsun Heritage garden at 8:00 a.m. on September 7. This will be a restoration of the First Word Narrative, the history of the Indigenous People of San Juan Bautista, told by Indigenous people from their perspective.

"Reclaiming this narrative holds primacy in the overall narratives told in the "City of History," because it came before any other history, and is the only one which has not been represented in 150 years since our incorporation. This gathering will be for the purposes of "honoring Truth in History" by paying homage to the land and the original stewards of it. Please come join us in this historic moment as a display of unity and solidarity with the original peoples of this city."

Parade
There will be a pancake breakfast sponsored by the Masonic Lodge at the corner of Second & Muckelemi streets starting at 8:30 a.m.

The Clampers will dedicate a commemorative plaque honoring the 150th anniversary of San Juan Bautista's recognition as a city by the government of California. A monument will be placed at the site of the former Volunteer Fire Department on the Polk Street side of City Hall; ceremony to begin at 10:00 a.m.

Please join us for our 150 Years Parade starting Saturday morning at 11:00 a.m. This parade will depict our history from the very earliest time to the present era. Introducing the parade will be the Veterans of Foreign Wars Color Guard of San Juan Bautista.

The first segment of the procession will be Franciscan priests on foot accompanied by soldados and their families. Several of these people are actual descendants of the de Anza Expedition of 1775-76.

Following this will be Mexican Rancho days with horsemen taking the part of vaqueros.

Next, the early American ranching era will be showcased by riders who still practice many of the tasks done in the earlier era.

The next segment will have riders depicting modern-times ranching and horsemanship. A rodeo drill team will perform.

Lastly, in celebration of early US Highway 101 that once came down Third Street, and of the City's early volunteer and service organizations, there will be classic autos with representative from these groups.

Parade route: The Alameda from San Juan School down Third Street to Muckelemi Street.

Family Day Party in the Park
Follow the parade route down to Abbe Baseball Park on Fourth and Muckelemi streets to enjoy real old fashioned family fun for all. Live entertainment will be provided by the Alta California Dance Company, the Ukulele Jammers and San Juan School Choir, Zak Freitas and the Hired Guns, and Somos. Also a folklorico troupe of 20 children will perform.

Also happening will be free hot dogs, cookies and water from 12:00 to 2:00 p.m. Games and contests for family fun and involvement will be on hand. The best beard grown in one month and the best home baked pie contests will be looking for contestants. Games will include a cake walk, limbo, a sack race, tug-o-war, three-legged race and more. Bring your blanket or folding chair and join us for an old-fashioned family day from 12:00 to 5:00 p.m.

At 6:00 p.m., the Eagle Scouts will perform an official flag burning of old and tattered American flags at the VFW grounds on Monterey (Larios) Street.

A dance will be held at the VFW building starting at 7:00 p.m. Music will be provided by "Backyard Blues" and the entrance charge will be $10.