Saturday morning both sides of Historic Folsom’s Sutter Street are expected to be lined with spectators as the annual Hometown Parade makes its return to the city’s vibrant Historic District. This year, those who are unable to make it out in person will be able to enjoy the event live as well as Folsom Times has teamed with the Folsom Historic District and several community partners to live stream the event for the first time.
“The Historic Folsom Hometown Parade is a very special event here in our community, so this year, we wanted to make sure everyone across the community and even those far away that have a Folsom connection have an opportunity to enjoy it,” explained Adam Frick, co-founder of Folsom Times, which was voted the Emerging Business of the Year in the 2024 Community Awards presented by the Folsom Chamber of Commerce. “Livestreaming an event like this is a task to take on and produce, but we’ve been very successful in doing our high school graduations in the past, so why not the Hometown Parade? Thanks to a great group of advertising partners that have pitched in the sponsor our efforts, we are able to make it happen this year.”
On parade day, no matter where they are, those wishing to check out the Historic Folsom Hometown Parade can simply jump online, visit www.folsomtimes.com and be taken right to the livestream broadcast that will take place through YouTube live. The event will feature all the sights and sounds of the parade, just as if the viewers were there in person, including the parade announcers. After the event, the parade can be viewed on demand for those that want to watch it at a later time as well.
The Folsom Times Livestream broadcast is made possible by a handful of sponsors that came together to help fund the project. Several of sponsors are current advertising partners with the online news publication, others are brand new who stepped in to help fund the production this year, including Bayside Church of Folsom, Handley’s Western Wear, Style Media Group and Symmetry for Health, all of whom joined with the Folsom Historic District (FHDA) to assist.
“Bayside Church Folsom is proud to sponsor the Hometown Parade Livestream to bring the pride of our hometown into homes in Folsom and beyond. Join us as we celebrate with friends, family, and guests in Folsom,” said Kalie Annis, Bayside Church Communications Director. “At Bayside Folsom, we know that Folsom is Family and we are excited to bring this event to our extended family in the comfort of their homes.”
When it comes to Folsom’s patriotic events or anything with cowboys, cowgirls and red, white and blue, Handley’s Western Wear always seems to be involved and such is the case this year as they teamed with Folsom Times to bring the event to so many that may otherwise be unable to attend, such as many of Folsom’s senior living facilities, homebound residents or those with health concerns that want to enjoy their city’s special event.
“All of us at Handley’s are so excited to partner with Folsom Times to livestream the Hometown Parade this year,” said Handley Western Wear’s Julie Spitler. “For many years Handley’s has been a long tradition with the Folsom Pro Rodeo along with this very special parade that really kicks off the whole rodeo week. It’s our pleasure to help bring this magical event to viewers locally and far away to enjoy what Folsom has to offer. We hope this become tradition for years to come.”
Since its inaugural year, Style Media Group has been part of the Hometown Parade as a sponsor as well as providing volunteers from its staff. This year, the region’s number one monthly magazine is excited to team up with Folsom Times for the livestream, as well as continue their longtime sponsorship of the parade itself.
“Style Magazine is proud to be a sponsor of the parade and the livestream this year,” said Debbie Newell-Junhos on behalf of Style Media, who has also been a volunteer with the parade through the years, “We’ve proudly sponsored this parade for six years now and we love Historic Folsom.”
Symmetry for Health in Folsom, generously shares neighboring office space with the IT and communications center of Folsom Times at their Iron Point Road office. When he heard about the livestream and the need for broadcast sponsorship to make it a reality, he wasted no time in getting involved to help bring a bit of Folsom’s hometown charm to a vast audience this year.
“What I love about Folsom, aside from being a business owner here for 12 years and living here is that it has the big city feel with the small town experience,” said Mummy. “The Folsom Hometown Parade exemplifies that feeling and that tradition of small town America. We are excited to help Folsom Times bring that to life through this livestream.”
This year’s Hometown Parade 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.
The livestream for the event will begin approximately 15 minutes prior to the parade’s beginning to give viewers the opportunity to tune in and get settled to enjoy the event from the comfort of wherever they may be. On the day of the parade, simply visit www.folsomtimes.com to be taken to the livestream by the simple click of a button. Viewers can also go directly to the Folsom Times YouTube channel HERE the day of the event as well.
“The Folsom Hometown Parade is made possible by an army of volunteers as well as sponsors of its own, “ said Bill Sullivan, co-founder/publisher of Folsom Times.“Thanks to this generous group of additional sponsors that came to us to help with the broadcast we are able to share this special event with so many, we already have some of our senior centers planning to have it on for their residents. This is an example of community partners putting their heads and their resources together can do. Our graduation livestreams were very successful, we’re certain this will be too.”
Longtime Folsom pastor and resident Brad Franklin is 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 to start things off Saturday. So tune in!