Time to Light the Lights
Photos courtesy of Castro Valley/Eden Area Chamber of Commerce
Get ready to light up the Boulevard! After a two-year hiatus, the Castro Valley Light Parade returns this weekend, Saturday, November 12. This is the 10th anniversary of the event, and this year is expected to be bigger and brighter than in years past.
More than 75 entries including 12 schools will be marching up and down Castro Valley Boulevard. Some 2,500 people are expected to walk alongside their lighted floats, vehicles, and even wagons and strollers. The parade ends with the arrival of Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus. Event organizers anticipate about 10,000 people watching along the parade path.
"The Light Parade is special because it's not just coming down to watch, it is coming down to participate," event founder and organizer Mel Speed told the Forum. "This is a community thing where anyone can enter. We don't have just businesses, community groups, and schools with a float. We have four or five individual families participating this year."
New for this year is the "First Responders Thank You" theme. Every lighted entry in the parade can designate one or several participants to be their own Grand Marshal—someone who has helped the community overcome the COVID pandemic such as a police officer, firefighter, healthcare professional, or community volunteer.
There will also be two grandstand stages featuring musical acts, choirs, and dancers. One stage will be positioned in front of Lucca's Delicatessen, the other will be in front of Knudsen's Ice Creamery.
"We'll have about 16 vendor booths along the south side of Castro Valley Boulevard selling food, glowsticks, toys, and other handmade items," Speed said.
This is also the first year that the Castro Valley/Eden Area Chamber of Commerce is hosting the event. Speed said the whole thing came together quickly and he's grateful for sponsors such as the Alameda County Economic & Civic Development Department, Go Green Driving School, KMC Cleaners, State Farm agent Todd Anglin, and CV San.
The Castro Valley Light Parade was created by Speed after County Supervisors asked for some type of celebration capping off the Boulevard's makeover in 2012. But the idea of a community parade had been mulling around in Speed's brain since 1991.
"I was in Fort Bragg that year helping a heavy metal rock band and while I was there, the city hosted a holiday parade where people would put lights on cars, trucks, and even a logging truck all decked out in lights. It was amazing and the community loved it. So, I thought we could do the same thing in Castro Valley," Speed said.
Castro Valley Boulevard is also long enough that the parade staging area will stretch from Lake Chabot Road to San Miguel Avenue, thus avoiding congesting the side streets. Parade organizers are also putting the schools near the front of the line so that they can see the parade themselves and make it easier for parents to pick them up when the procession drops off near Wilbeam Avenue.
Traffic on Castro Valley Boulevard will be closed at San Miguel Avenue around 1:30 p.m. to give time for the grandstands and vendors to set up. The Boulevard will be closed off at Lake Chabot around 3:30 p.m. so the floats can start lining up. The parade will begin at 5:30 p.m. and the event will close at 9:00 p.m.
There is still time for you to participate as a volunteer. Call (510) 537-5300 or you can visit https://www.edenareachamber.com/castro-valley-light-parade-2022/ for more information