Marchers, floats and observers will “Honor the Labor Force” at the 8th Annual Santa Paula Labor Day Parade to be held Monday, September 3.
The Main Street parade, one of the few in the state, will honor Mike Mobley as grand marshal who will lead the procession celebrating all who work, no matter their job.
The 10 a.m. parade will be held on East Main Street, stepping out from 7th Street. The procession will end at the Gazebo at Railroad Plaza Park where awards will be given.
Santa Paula Airport aviators will provide a flyover, and Hannah Grant will sing the National Anthem to open the event. Then parade participants will march, ride horses, pass by on floats, pull wagons, fill convertibles and show off for the crowd, working even on Labor Day to show their support of all who toil. Any type of entry that celebrates the work force is welcome to take part in the parade, which always draws a big crowd to the historic downtown.
Judges Tony Perez, Lorenzo Moraza and Talia Wunder will determine the winners in the three categories, “Most Original,” “Most Participants” and “Best Overall Use of the Theme.” Jojo Leon and a partner will moderate the parade for later Time Warner Cable Channel 10 broadcast, while KADYTV.com will handle the street scene, coverage that will be archived online.
The Labor Day Parade Committee felt there was no better way to honor the labor force than by honoring Mobley, the hardworking owner/operator of Progressive Land Management and a tireless community volunteer, as grand marshal. “We are just so proud of Mike” for all his efforts on behalf of his large number of workers and the community, said Labor Day Parade Committee member Anita Pulido.
Each year the Labor Day Parade Committee organizes the event - assisted by community parade maven Ron Merson - with the sponsorship of the Santa Paula Rotary Club and community donations.
Started in 1882, Labor Day is an American tradition stretching back 130 years. But it wasn’t until after the violent and deadly 1894 Pullman Strike, a nationwide conflict between labor unions and railroads, that President Grover Cleveland made the September 5 holiday a national one, partially in the hope of quelling further unrest. Later Labor Day was moved to the first Monday in September to serve as not only an event honoring workers, but to also signal the end of summer and provide a three-day weekend to celebrate.
Santa Paula’s annual Labor Day Parade each year draws individuals, groups, bands, equestrians, youth, students, unions, and families - anyone who works - to celebrate labor by marching along. Spectators line both sides of the street to enjoy the show that serves a dual purpose - to offer entertainment and to honor the working men and women of America.
Entry forms may be downloaded from the Santa Paula City website at http://www.ci.santa-paula.ca.us/LaborDayParadeForm.pdf or picked up at Santa Paula Times, the Chamber of Commerce office, or the Community Services Department. For additional information or an entry form sent by mail, please call 525-5232 or email ronmerson@hotmail.com.
If you are interested in donating to help keep this annual celebration of labor going year after year, make the check out to “Santa Paula Community Fund”, note Labor Day Parade on the memo line, and mail to: Peter Wright, 801 McKevett Road, Santa Paula, CA 93060.
