Each of the years it has taken place, the Historic Folsom Hometown Parade has grown in popularity and good old fashioned patriotic spirit with a definitive local flavor. This Saturday, that trend is expected to continue as the event not only returns in grand fashion but will also commence three big days of fun and entertainment taking place in the Historic District including the Thursday night Twilight Concert Series, and the Friday night Folsom Hometown Country Radio Show that brings a stellar collection of the region’s top talent to the amphitheater.
“We couldn’t be more excited to present this family-fun event to the district once again,” say Historic District Executive Director Judy Collinsworth. Collinsworth shared with Folsom Times that some 70 volunteers have come together to help put on this year’s parade. The many volunteers play numerous roles, not only when it comes to planning the event, but coming out early in the day to decorate, help stage entries, manage parking and provide plenty of “hometown hospitality” to all that are expected to attend.
Prior to the parade Saturday, a community pancake breakfast will take place for a bargain price and benefit the local non-profit organization.
This year’s Hometown Parade presented by Lakeside Church and the Folsom Hotel starts at 9:30 a.m. sharp Saturday and will take place on Sutter Street from top to bottom, beginning at Scott Street and heading west towards Decatur Street. This year, the event is expected to include more than 70 entries, with returning favorites and a large number of new floats including mini donkeys from the Folsom Zoo, Santa’s Cottage, roller skating cowboys, the Painted Ladies precision equestrian team a summertime sample of the Historic District’s popular holiday ice rink plus numerous local participants representing service clubs, youth groups, local entertainment and more.
Longtime Folsom pastor and resident Brad Franklin has been named the Grand Marshal of this year’s parade. Franklin retired in October after 36 years as the founding and lead pastor of Lakeside Church. Franklin will be followed in the parade by a float that will include members of the Lakeside music team who will play live music along the route. Kristen Brown, a leading competitor on The Voice in 2023, will sing “America the Beautiful” to lead the parade. Jessica Visconti of the Visconti’s Ristorante family will sing the national anthem.
Franklin was honored to be named the Grand Marshal this year and is excited to play such an honorable role in the special event. The family-friendly event personifies Franklin’s signature phrase that “’love your neighbor’ expands to ‘love your neighborhood,’ which expands to ‘love your community.’”
“I love that our growing city still feels like a small town,” Franklin told Folsom Times after being announced as the Grand Marshal. Franklin resides in Folsom’s Historic District with his wife and pastoral partner, Donna. “I love the way people connect and serve in our city, and I love that our churches get to be a part of that.
As the event is expected to draw a hearty crowd once again, an early arrival is suggested to the Historic District. In other words, come for the parade and enjoy the fabulous district that hosts it at the same time.
“Arrive early and enjoy breakfast in the district” added Collinsworth. “Make it great Saturday morning in Historic Folsom.”
Collinsworth’s push for attendees to arrive early is not only to encourage the public to check out the many great retailers and restaurants the Historic District has to offer, but also to insure everyone can arrive in time to find their spot on Sutter Street to view the parade as parking will be limited with the expected attendance. Parking will be available in the Historic District Parking garage.
Parking will not be permitted on various residential streets, but Regional Transit will be operating bus service from the Light Rail Station at Iron Point and Folsom Boulevard by the Premium Outlets to and from the Historic District while regular Light Rail Service into the district is still on pause do to track construction along the line.
Surely, the lines of Sutter Street will be packed with spectators in person Saturday, but for those that can’t get out to the event and others that want to enjoy the parade from afar, the event is being livestreamed this year courtesy of Folsom Times and their community partners. It doesn’t matter if they are homebound right here in Folsom, or someplace across the globe, viewers can tune at www.folsomtimes.com Saturday morning and watch the event live as it happens and participants of the parade can have the opportunity to view it on demand later through the local community news site, all with free access to the viewer.
For more information on all of Saturday’s festivities, you can visit www.historicfolsom.org.