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More than 30,000 people are expected to arrive in central Danville on Monday morning for the annual Independence Day parade down the Hartz Avenue corridor.
Organized every year by the Kiwanis Club of the San Ramon Valley as the service group’s principal fundraiser, the parade draws a wide range of participants, including local politicians, fire and police officials, military veteran organizations, youth groups, sports teams and nonprofits.
Ron Kosich, parade chairman and Kiwanian of the Year, has assembled more than 200 entrants for this year’s parade, which runs from 9 a.m. to noon on the Fourth of July.
The parade route starts on Danville Boulevard just south of San Ramon Valley High School, continues down Hartz Avenue and ends on San Ramon Valley Boulevard opposite the Livery and Mercantile at Sycamore Valley Road.
This year’s grand marshal is James “Jim” Allen Taylor, a Vietnam veteran, retired Army major and recipient of the Medal of Honor. Live musical entertainment will be provided by 17 bands, led by the Prince Charles Pipe Band.
For more information, visit the Kiwanis Club website.
Preparing for the parade
Danville town officials will implement a series of street closures from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday to accommodate the parade.
They also advise attendees to avoid using chalk or tape on sidewalks to mark off spots for their parade-watching chairs. Because of drought-related water restrictions, businesses are unable to power-wash sidewalks after the parade and the chalk or tape residue can remain in place for weeks, or even months, afterward, which can look unsightly, town officials said.
Chairs can be placed on sidewalks starting at 6 p.m. Sunday. Residents cannot block handicap-accessible ramps on street corners with their parade chairs.
Parking will be available in municipal lots, including the Front Street Municipal Parking Lot, Railroad Avenue Municipal Parking Lot, Clock Tower Parking Lot, Park and Ride Lot on Sycamore Valley Road and Danville Library/Community Center. Handicap parking is available at Diablo Road at Front Street.
Street closures, running from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m., are:
* Danville Boulevard between El Cerro Boulevard and Railroad Avenue
* Railroad Avenue between Hartz Avenue and Love Lane
* Love Lane between Railroad Avenue and Verona Avenue
* La Gonda Way between El Cerro Boulevard and Danville Boulevard
* Hartz Avenue between Railroad Avenue and Hartz Way
* San Ramon Valley Boulevard between Hartz Way and Sycamore Valley Road
* Westbound Sycamore Valley Road and Remington Loop between San Ramon Valley Boulevard and Sheri Lane.
Area streets open to through traffic include Danville Boulevard from El Cerro Boulevard north, Del Amigo Road, Verona Avenue and San Ramon Valley Boulevard south of Sycamore Valley Road West.
