Organizers seem pleased with the increased turnout of the 85th annual May Fete Children’s Parade, which more than 3,000 people came to watch on Saturday, May 5.

Sixty-six organizations including school bands, elementary schools, and stilt-walkers, participated in the parade. They marched 13.5 blocks from University Avenue and Emerson Street to Addison Elementary School where marchers and spectators alike participated in carnival activities such as bounce houses and ate snow cones on the grass lawn. The lawn was also filled with booths of community organizations and small performances.

Many especially enjoyed the community value of the parade.

“It [the parade] is pretty amazing,” Palo Alto school parent Will Ray said. “You see what kind of people live in your city.”

International School parent, Nike Janik said, “It was really fun to see all the other schools participating and seeing friends walking on the street.”

City officials use the parade to help strengthen the community and include attractions that appeal to children, teenagers, and senior citizens, according to Shia Geminder, the recreation supervisor of the city of Palo Alto and organizer of the parade.

“The May Fete Children’s Parade seeks to strengthen community image and a sense of place, increase cultural unity, provide a recreational experience, promote health and wellness, and support economic development within the City of Palo Alto,” Geminder said. “This was the 85th annual parade and each year the community knows, and looks forward to participating in their own parade on the first Saturday in May.”

One hundred students with green pep band shirts and blue jeans participated in the Paly marching band, playing “Green and White All Right Now” and the march “Invercargill”.

“I thought it [the parade] was terrific,” Paly parent Fred Ackroyd said. “It demonstrated a lot of community spirit. I particularly liked the Jordan and Paly Bands,”

Freshmen band member Kathleen Higgins said .”I didn’t expect such a large crowd because we were at the end of it [the parade].”

Sophomore band member Anne Ciccarelli said.”I think we played well. We had a really good number of people. There was one time when one person was marching with me for a few blocks and kept cheering.”

“My favorite part of the parade is seeing the looks of joy and pride on the kids faces who actually get to march in their own parade!” Geminder said.