The Solano Avenue Stroll Parade has been replaced by a moving opening ceremony with a Grand Marshal.
- Ceremony will move along the same route (Colusa, westbound to Masonic @BART)
- Participation is limited to 25 pre-selected entries
- Participation is by invitation only
Don’t miss the parade! Wait, is there a parade? Well, yes, and no…
Unfortunately, due to requirements from the Albany Police Department, we have been asked to scale back the parade.
We have modified our parade to create more of a “kickoff” moving, opening ceremony celebration of pre-selected participants that will still promenade down Solano Avenue beginning at 10am. Please note, there will be no grandstand, judges or prizes.
We hope you will join us on the sidelines to waive and well wish those organizations in our community, along with the parade Grand Marshal.
- Instruction Sheet
- Line-up (public)
- Line-up (Staff & Participants)
- Registration (Invitation Only)
2023 (9/10) Grand Marshal:
John Nakamura, Albany Subaru
2022 (9/11) Grand Marshal:
Sue Johnson, Sue Johnson Lamps
- Parade contest / judging was discontinued in 2022
2020 / 2021 Cancelled because of COVID
2019 (09/08) – Yellow (yellow)
Iraj Vafaeenia, Solano Oriental Rug Gallery (Grand Marshal)
First Place: El Cerrito Preschool Cooperative
Second Place: Unitarian Universalist Church of Berkeley
Third Place: Albany Armada Aquatics
Honorable mention: Albany Preschool (SAA member)
Honorable mention: Montessori Family School
Honorable mention: Thousand Grandmothers Bay Area
Honorable mention: Dogs4Diabetics (Dogs for Diabetics)
Honorable mention: Head Over Heels Athletic Arts
2018 (09/09) – Green
Pay Looney, City of Albany – Retired (Grand Marshal)
First Place: The El Cerrito Preschool Cooperative
Second Place: Albany Irish Dance
Third Place: Cornell School Chinese After-School Program (AUSD)
Honorable mention: Ava All-Starz Cheer & Dance
Honorable mention: Alameda County – Mosquito Abatement District
2017 (09/10) – Pink
Gail Drulis, Albany YMCA – Grand Marshal (Serving the Albany YMCA since 1982)
First place: Guanyin Citta, Inc.
Second place: The El Cerrito Preschool Cooperative
Third place: Berkeley Chess School
Fourth place: Albany Preschool
Honorable mention: Cornell School Chinese After-School Program (AUSD)
Honorable mention: School of the Madeleine MAD Band
Honorable mentions: Albany Armada Aquatics; Children’s Community Center; Dogs for Diabetics; Girl Scouts of Albany – Berkeley and TuTu School Berkeley (presented alphabetically)
2016 (09/11) – Orange
Denise Grimshaw, Arrow Glass – Grand Marshal (serving Albany since 1949)
First place: Albany Preschool
Second place: The El Cerrito Preschool Cooperative and the School of the Madeleine (a tie)
Third place: Head Over Heels Athletic Arts
Honorable mentions go to: Albany High School Cheerleaders; Albany Armada Aquatics; Berkeley Chess School; Cornell School Chinese After-School Program; Montessori Family School and the Unitarian Universalist Church of Berkeley
2015 (09/13) – Purple
Janet (Jan) Snidow, Mane Alley Salon – Grand Marshal (celebrating 42 years on Solano Avenue)
First place: The El Cerrito Preschool Cooperative
Second place: School of the Madeleine MAD Band
Third place: Montessori Family School
Honorable mentions go to: Albany High School Cheerleaders; Albany Preschool; Berkeley High School; Brasarte and Dogs for Diabetics
2014 (09/14) – Blue
Henry Pruyn, Solano Cleaning Center – Grand Marshal
First Place: The El Cerrito Preschool Cooperative
Second place: Berkeley Ballet Theatre
Third place is a two-way tie between: Berkeley Playhouse and the El Cerrito High School Cheerleaders
Honorable mention goes to the Friends of the Berkeley Tuollomne Camp
2013 (09/08) – Red
The Accornero Family, Oaks Jewelers – Grand Marshal
First Place: The El Cerrito Preschool Cooperative
Second Place: Berkeley Unified School District Book Cart Drill Team
Third Place: is a three-way tie between: Berkeley Juggling and Uni-cycling Cooperative; Casa Oaxaca Dancers and Head Over Heels Athletic Arts
2012 (09/09):
Tom Taylor, Artist, Art Thou Graphics – Grand Marshal
First Place: The El Cerrito Preschool Cooperative
Second Place: is a tie between the Albany Preschool and Crestmont School
Third Place: is a tie between: Danza Azteca, Hot Pink Feathers and the El Cerrito High School Cheerleaders
2011 (09/11):
Sylvia McGlaughlan, San Francisco Bay’s “Best Friend” – Grand Marshal
First Place: is a “tie” between Albany Preschool and the El Cerrito Preschool Cooperative
Second Place: Berkeley Historical Society
Third Place: Berkeley Ballet Theater
2010 (09/12):
Noah Alper, Noah’s Bagels – Grand Marshal
First Place: El Cerrito Preschool Cooperative
Second Place: Danceversity
Third Place: is a “tie” between the Albany Preschool and Crestmont School
2009 (09/13):
First Place: Berkeley Pools Campaign (berkeleypools.org)
Second Place: El Cerrito Preschool Cooperative
Third Place: Brasarte
PAST Prizes (when there was parade judging)
First Place: $150 Cash and $150 in Solano Avenue Gift Cards
Second Place: $100 Cash and $100 in Solano Avenue Gift Cards
Third Place: $50 in Solano Avenue Gift Cards
(This six-color wheel represents the colors we intend to cycle through)