The organizers of the 2024 Mill Valley Memorial Day Parade announced this week that the event will return on May 27th!!
This year’s theme, “Strength in Numbers,” represents our tight-woven community spirit, how, as a town, we come together and get things done in a way that makes Mill Valley the best place to live in America!
“Let’s get those parade entries in!,” says Larry “the Hat” Lautzker, one of the event organizers. “We’re anticipating a big turnout this year. Let’s get together with your friends, neighbors, and local organizations and make this the best parade ever.”
Get your K-8 kid’s essay “What does Memorial Day mean to me and my family” submitted before May 17 and find out if their essay was one of three winners.
Veterans Ceremony Winning essay writers read their essays at the Veterans Ceremony and ride with special acknowledgment in the parade!
As always, the weekend extends well beyond the massive parade, including the return of the Mill Valley Volunteer Firefighters’ Association’s Pancake Breakfast from 7-11am, the Mill Valley Historical Society’s annual ‘Walk Into History’ event, the 4-day KIDDO! Carnival and the after Parade party. The Kiddo! Memorial Day Celebration is from 12-5:15pm on Friends Field with free admission.
As usual, the parade will be preceded by the aforementioned Veterans Ceremony at Lytton Square, the tree-laden island that splits the road between Miller and Corte Madera avenues into two and is named for Lytton Barber, Mill Valley’s first WWI casualty.The parade starts with the very special Veterans Ceremony, which includes the student K-8 essay contest “What does Memorial Day mean to me,” beginning at 9:45 am at Lytton Square, followed by the parade at 10:30 am.
Lautzker, Paul Moe, and Clifford Waldeck invite you to get together with your neighbors and friends or support local organizations and create wondrous floats. Enter your Classic Car, bring your pet kangaroo, and get creative!
We’re returning the glory days of Mill Valley Parades, Color Guard, Great floats, Dogs marching, and Classic Cars, with trophies for best in all (see entry form) categories.
A heads up to the Bad Fashion offenders in our community: The Famous4 Fashion Police will be out in force, protecting our children from being exposed to the damage caused by reckless coordination, wardrobe expired, bad banana khaki karma, excessive accessorizing and other violations that harm our kids sense of fashion understanding and confidence.
All your favorite organizations will be there with new entries, neighborhood friends, and families creating their one-of-a-kind floats and participation.
Parade Applications and info are now online at mviloveaparade.com
Immediately after the parade on Friends Field at the Mill Valley Community Center, Kiddo!, (in collaboration with Mill Valley Recreation, The City of Mill Valley, Famous4 Productions) is hosting a free “Concert on the Green” from 12:30-5:00pm. Bands TBA. The event is free to the community. There will also be tasty food and beverages for all ages from local vendors available for purchase. DO NOT BRING YOUR OWN ADULT BEVERAGES. Beer, wine, and other assorted beverages will be sold at the event with proceeds to benefit Mill Valley Schools Community Foundation. For more information, please contact the Kiddo! office at (415) 389-7789 or visit the Kiddo! website at www.kiddo.org.