The Kiwanis Club of Davis has sponsored a Fourth of July Kiddie Parade for more than forty years. Kids of any age through 6^th grade who have participated in the first parades, now have their children and even some grandchildren in the event. It’s a fun time for kids, parents, grandparents, and the entire community. Instill patriotism in our young children. And it’s easy to plan and carry out.

Advance planning is essential to the success of the parade. Points to remember:

1. Obtain city/police permits. Inform the neighborhood where the parade is held.

2. Encourage participants to be original as they fully decorate themselves and their bikes, trikes and wagons in our colors: red, white, and blue. Many use historic themes such as the pilgrims, George Washington, Ben Franklin, covered wagons.

3, Advertise with flyers in schools (before summer vacation), in day care centers, local newspapers, on educational radio and television stations.

4. Encourage participants to be in one of the parade categories:

Walkers, Strollers, Wagons, Groups, Tricycles, Bicycles.

5. Everyone receives a "Participant" ribbon, straight pinned to each kid’s shirt.

6. Use Key Club members as judges in each category, and later present awards of first, second, & third place ribbons in each category.

7. Use youth group of Police Explorers for traffic control. Rope off a full block for everyone to assemble at 9:30 AM behind their category sign. Perform the judging.

8. Invite the Boy/Girl Scouts to lead the parade as the Honor Guard, at 10:00 AM.

9. Include others, fire chief on an old fire engine. Sound the siren & ring the bell !

10. Have a high school or local band to walk or play on the back of a flat-bed truck. They can pep the crowd up with selections before the start of the parade, and continue playing at the end of the parade.

11. Stretch out the parade. Funnel the participants with guiding ropes. Spread them out. Ask them to move slowly, to give the audience along the curbs time to enjoy the kids and their decorations, and take pictures.

12. In just two blocks, end the parade at 10:30 AM at a park where club banners and The American Flag are displayed. Provide brochures about Kiwanis. After a few selections from the band, have them play, with everyone singing, "The Star Spangled Banner." Salute the flag. Use a public address amplifier to announce the awards as they are presented to the winning children.

13. Consider having free punch for everyone. Perhaps even sell hamburgers, hot dogs, cold drinks.

14. Follow-up with newspaper articles including the award winners. Be sure their names are spelled correctly ! And give thanks to all in the community.

More than 400 kids participate in each parade. With their parents and the rest of the crowd, more than 1000 people are exposed to Kiwanis and our service to the youth of the community.

For more information contact members of the Kiwanis Club of Davis:

Other clubs may soon be having a "Kiddie Parade." We understand that the Greater Colfax Kiwanis Club in Division 44 is planning to have a Kiddie Parade on July 3, 2005 !!!