Alameda Fourth of July Parade — Downtown Alameda CA, July 4, 2014

Alameda 4th of July Parade 2014 – Find the Best View on Park Street

June 24, 2014 — PSBA Stephanie

Fourth of July in Alameda is a terrific day to head downtown with family and friends to enjoy a good old-fashioned parade. Celebrate America’s birthday and show off your red, white, and blue while viewing one of the largest and longest Independence Day parades in the nation.

The Mayor’s Alameda 4th of July Parade started in 1976 and has become one of the best July 4th celebrations in the San Francisco Bay Area. The parade now boasts over 190 “floats” and over 2,500 participants that travel along a 3.3 mile route across Alameda – starting on Park Street in the East End and progressing all the way to Webster Street on the West End.

The holiday parade is sure to be fun for all. The procession includes a multitude of antique cars, hand-decorated flatbeds (“floats”), dancing horses, marching bands, dance troupes, cheer squads, bicyclists, musicians, costumed characters, and clowns.

Where’s the best place to view the Alameda 4th of July Parade? Our answer every year is… Park Street, between Lincoln and San Jose.

Here’s why we think Park Street is the best place to view the Alameda 4th of July Parade… The parade entrants start off with tons of energy along this first stretch of the parade route and they are positioned closer together. The rivalry for attention along Park Street can be very entertaining and there’s usually lots of candy handed out to the kids. Plus, the performances and the cheering in the parade tend to be best near the Judging Stand which is located on Park Street near the intersection of Alameda Avenue. Also, if you are looking for a refreshment or a snack (or want to do a little shopping), there are plenty of businesses that are open in Downtown Alameda’s Historic Park Street Business District.

For the optimal viewing experience, you’ll want to arrive well before the 10:00am start time to nab a “front row” seat along the sidewalk curbs on Park Street. But even after the parade begins, you should still be able to find standing room somewhere along Park Street. (Be warned, the parade usually clears Park Street by 11:30am.)

Enjoy the “small-town” feel that makes Alameda so special and celebrate a good old-fashioned Fourth of July – put on your red, white, and blue attire; grab the kids; invite the friends; and head to Downtown Alameda for the annual 4th of July parade.

"Everybody loves a parade, and Alameda's annual Mayor's Fourth of July extravaganza — always on July 4, no matter what the day, natch — attracts some 20,000 spectators, or roughly one-third of the city's population. Everyone and then some are there to wave flags and witness color guards, marching bands, baton twirlers, classic cars, horses, politicians, veterans, and floats, floats, floats. The parade route is longer than three miles, allowing the city to claim it as the longest parade procession ever, which no one bothers to challenge. Families and friends lucky enough to live on the parade route host barbecues as the spectacle winds past, while others from Alameda and throughout the Bay Area contentedly nab spots along coveted stretches of Park Street, Grand, Central and Otis for optimal viewing. This event epitomizes Americana at its finest and is the best hometown parade going in the East Bay, no question. Makes you proud to be an American."

1. Step off begins by turning the corner onto Park Street.
2. Follow Park Street and take a right on Otis Drive.
3. From Otis Drive, turn right onto Grand Avenue and then a quick left onto Central Avenue.
4. Once you reach Webster turn right and travel to Lincoln where you will step off of the parade route.
5. It is important to continue moving along Lincoln Avenue as far as you can before unloading from an entry. This way we can ensure the safety of all participants and observers.

As a reminder to the participants, once moving along the parade route you do not need to stop at the traffic lights. Maintain your position so we do not end up with gaps in the procession.
Thank you for you help in making this a fun and safe event!

Detours

If you live within the boundaries of Clinton Ave. To Santa Clara Ave., to leave Alameda:

1. Take Union Street north
2. Turn left onto Santa Clara
3. Turn right onto Eighth St, which turns into Constitution, which goes to the Webster/Posey Tube

OR

1. Take Union Street north
2. Turn left onto Santa Clara
3. Turn right onto Grand St
4. Turn right onto Buena Vista
5. Turn left onto Park St, which goes to the Park Street Bridge

To get to South Shore Centerr:

1. Take Broadway south
2. Turn right onto Shore Line Dr
3. Turn right into the back of the shopping center

Leaving Alameda from Ballena Bay

1. Take Ballena Blvd north
2. Turn right onto Central Ave
3. Turn left onto Fifth St
4. Turn right onto Buena Vista
5. Turn left onto Webster St, which goes to the Webster/Posey Tube

More Information

3.3 miles!

The Mayor’s Fourth of July Parade is one of the longest routes in the country coming in at approximately 3.3 miles!

Driving?

Keep an eye out for Pedestrians and Drivers. They will be everywhere, and from everywhere. Meaning - more specifically - that they may not be as familiar with the road or walk as you are.

Oh, we love the people!

We need entrants to continually move along the route and can not allow entries to stop along the route to accept passengers. Please plan accordingly!

Line Up!

Line-up (starting at 8 AM) takes place along Lincoln Avenue between Grand Ave and Park Street.

Buses

Busses: Starting at 7 a.m. July 4: The bus stops on Webster Street will be moved to Constitution Way and Eighth Street. Buses will cross the Parade route on Willow at Otis, and on Santa Clara at Park Street, there will be Parade Volunteers and Police Officers to stop Parade traffic

Right of Way!?!

Please remember that Pedestrians have the Right-of-way and it is The law to let them cross at all crosswalks!

5-Oh

Keep an eye out for officers as they will be directing traffic at some intersections
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