- 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
Since 2022, our parade morphed into a “kickoff”, moving – opening ceremony. We hope you will join us on the sidelines to wave and well wish those who participate, along with the parade Grand Marshal.
- Instruction Sheet
- Line-up (public)
- Line-up (Staff & Participants)
- Registration (Invitation Only)
Grand Marshals:
2025 (9/14):
Frederika Adam, Albany Sauna & Hot Tubs
2024 (9/8):
Amy Thomas, Pegasus Books
2023 (9/10):
John Nakamura, Albany Subaru
2022 (9/11):
Sue Johnson, Sue Johnson Lamps
- Parade contest / judging was discontinued in 2022
2020 / 2021 Cancelled because of the COVID pandemic.
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