Enjoy a family holiday filled with History, Patriotism and Roses! The Rose, White and Blue Parade and Festival held annually on 4th of July in San Jose, California is a revival of the historic Rose Carnival of 1896, later known as The Fiesta de Las Rosas Parade in the 1920's.

Are you interested in being in this year's parade?  
Please read ALL the following information throroughly.

Here is how you can participate:

• Applications are required for all parade units. Deadline: June 15, 2012 at 5pm
• FREE to participate
• Volunteers needed!! Join in the fun! Become a parade marshal, route marshal, or event volunteer! Shifts begin at 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on July 4, 2012.  Individual and Group volunteer jobs available.

Parade Units - PRE-REGISTER online

Units include: school groups, marching bands, dance groups, service organizations, color guards, neighborhood groups, youth groups, and specialty groups.

Float Units - PRE-REGISTER online
Floats are home-made and pulled by trucks.
If you are interested entering a float, we will be holding a Float Building Workshop in Spring 2012. A member of your organization must attend at least one of these meetings as key fire-code and other safety rules will be reviewed as well as float building tips.

Vehicle Units  - PRE-REGISTER online

Are you part of a car club? You must be approved with number of cars allowed.  Antique vehicles and classic cars are welcome to join or you can decorate your vehicles in patriotic themes!

Specialty Units - PRE-REGISTER online

Local elected representatives, VIPs, Equestrian units, animal clubs on leashes, beds, large units, and larger vehicles (i.e. military trucks and fire engines).

Bikes, Wagons, and Trikes
PRE-REGISTER or EVENT DAY registration allowed

Decorate and ride your bikes and trikes! We encourage you to use your creativity to dress and decorate in roses, red, white, & blue. We will have some decorations available the morning of the parade if you need them. Plan to arrive at 8:00 a.m. to decorate and be ready to ride by 10:00 am. Parents will need to complete a liability release form  per child on event day. Young children will need an adult to walk or ride along-side the young riders. (1 adult per 6 children under 13 years old)

Rules

• ONLY individuals on bikes, wagons, scooters, strollers or roller skates will be allowed to be "walk-in" units that can show up and sign up the morning of the parade
• ALL entries must be approved to participate in the Parade. If your entry is selected, we will send you an email for entry confirmation for the 2012 parade.
• To be chosen you must be entertaining! You must be something that people would not see any day on the street. Also, you must be capable of moving down the street at about 2 miles/hour for almost two miles.
• Entries that promote political, religious, social, economic, or personal agendas will not be accepted
• Participant Age Restrictions: There must be a least one adult escort for every six children under the age of 13 years.
• Identification Signs: Identification banners are encouraged for entries in the parade.
• Please limit banner size to no larger than 3'x10'.
• All parade drivers must possess a valid drivers license and have proof of auto insurance
• NO drop-in parade units who are not pre-registered are allowed in parade.  Absolutely NO exceptions
• ALL Floats are required to carry an unexpired 2A10BC fire extinguisher on their floats.  No floats allowed without extinguishers.  NO EXCEPTIONS

The History of the Rose Parade

Roses have provided an enduring theme for San Jose throughout its history. The first Carnival of Roses was held in1896, went on for four days and featured twenty-three year old Lillian Rea as the first Rose Queen. These celebrations predated the creation of the Municipal Rose Garden (1931). In honor of President McKinley's visit in 1901, the City of San Jose planned a rose themed parade along The Alameda and every float was covered with roses. 

The Rose Carnival became Fiesta de Las Rosas in 1926. During the years of the Fiesta de Las Rosas, schoolyards and street corners alike were decorated with roses, flags and banners. A committee planted thousands of rose bushes giving meaning to the parade theme "Santa Clara Valley, the Rose Garden of the World." At its peak the parade boasted 87 floats, 10 bands, 200 mounted riders and a variety of decorated cars. A quarter million spectators were attracted to this "Grand Floral Parade" which started at the Mission Santa Clara, marched down The Alameda and ended in San Jose. The last Fiesta de Las Rosas took place in 1969.

About the Rose, White & Blue Parade 

The Parade begins at a staging area West San Carlos and Shasta Ave and winds through the charming and historic streets of the Shasta/Hanchett Neighborhood, ending at Lenzen and The Alameda. 

Our parade is paced with a mobile calliope that both leads and announces (loudly) the parade. In 2009, Councilmember Pierluigi Oliverio was honored as our parade Grand Marshall. Local dignitaries, dance groups, Boy and Girl Scouts, military units, antique car clubs, and floats were featured in last year's parade. We will continue this year with our float making competition where cash prizes are offered to the top three entrants. At the staging area we provide patriotic red, white and blue decorations for the kids to decorate their bikes and wagons. Last year 400 kids and their parents showed up to decorate and be in the parade. The parade continues to be subject of conversation and continued excitement in our community. In 2010, Steve Wozniak, Apple Co-founder, was our Grand Marshal.

July 4, 2012 - Event Day Schedule

7:30 a.m.    Parade staging - ALL parade units must check-in to staging area by 
                    8 a.m. rain or shine
10:00 a.m. Parade begins at West San Carlos Street
11:30 a.m. (estimated) Parade concludes on The Alameda
12:00 p.m. Ceremony and Live Music at The Alameda / Shasta Avenue 
                   (parade route end)

Questions?

Email: rwbparade@gmail.com

Phone: 408-436-8581