A daylong celebration featuring several interactive events for the whole family is planned for Saturday, April 23.
Titled “Burbank On Parade and Family Festival” the highlight of the day will be the 35th annual parade, which showcases the theme “Our Heroes”. It begins at 11 a.m. and travels east along Olive Avenue from Keystone to Lomita streets. The parade route will be closed to vehicle traffic at 6 a.m. in preparation for the Burbank Fun Walk/Run at 7:30 a.m. organized by Fleet Feet Sports, to be followed by CicLABurbank — a bicycle ride on the parade route — beginning at 8:30 a.m. and organized by WalkBike Burbank.
Post-parade events from 2 to 4 p.m. include a car show, street dancing to live musical entertainment and over a dozen food trucks on Olive Avenue from Virginia Street to Lomita.
“We’re making it a whole day of family activities” said festival chair Ross Benson. “There will be things to do for all ages from young kids to seniors and music everyone will enjoy.”
In keeping with the healthy lifestyle events, the committee is encouraging people to ride their bikes to the festival, Benson said.
WalkBike Burbank will have a bike valet at the Society Security parking lot so people can park their bike safely while participating in the activities. People riding their bikes in the CyclaBurbank can park their bike at 9:30 and walk back to the Burbank-Burroughs Alumni pancake breakfast continuing from 7 to 11 a.m. in the school district’s parking lot at Olive and Parish.
There will be a whole area set aside for the younger generation called the Kid Zone. Members of WalkBike Burbank will be drawing Hop Scotch squares for kids to play. Those new to cycling can check out the bike maintenance area to learn such techniques as tightening seats and handle bars. There will be souvenir t-shirts available at the festival and one can also buy them on line. Officials with WalkBike Burbank will be handing out bike-related pamphlets.
Elsa, the character from “Frozen”, will be posing for selfies with kids. Mural and portrait artist Randall Williams will be instructing children in the art of chalk drawing on the street.
Burbank Arts for All will have area set aside for activities. Kids will be drawing pictures of their heroes.
The day is also Earth Day so the Burbank Recycle Center will be teaching residents how to compost, and what articles can be recycled in the blue barrels.
Burbank Fire Department’s Muster Club will be bringing its Moreland fire truck built at the Moreland Truck factory in burbank back in the 1920s.
The Social Security Department will have representatives greeting the public at a table and they will be answering questions.
The car show will feature classic cars from individuals and from the Road Kings car club, which will be carrying the VIPs in the parade.
Burbank organizations will have booths set up in Izay Park including Burbank Police Foundation and the Burbank Police Department’s Chief Scott LaChasse and the command staff will be there to answer questions and meet kids and residents.
Local heroes can keep up their stamina by patronizing the food trucks including Mandoline Grill, Monster Tacos, Cousins Main Lobster and Rockin Ice. For a more complete list go to the website BurbankOnParade.com.
Paper Rain will be performing classic rock music on Olive in front of the Starfighter jet monument and people will be dancing in the street.
The main attraction of the day is the parade and this year the committee has chosen the theme of “Celebrating Our Heroes!” Many people who residents admire will be appearing in the parade along with city leaders, celebrities, military veterans, police and fire vehicles, high school bands, organizations and youth groups.
One of the parade entries is the Burbank Cultural Arts Commission, whose mission is to build, collaborate and communicate Burbank as a regional arts center. Commissioners work diligently to support all artists and arts organizations in Burbank through various programs and events.
Equestrian units planning to ride in the parade are the Wells Fargo Stage Coach, Fiesta of the Spanish Horse and the War Horse Foundation.