Napa Valley Wine Country / About Wine, Food, and and Wine Country Living

Posted May 2006

Parading Around in Calistoga

Everyone Loves a Small Town Parade

By Kent Domogalla

Everyone loves a parade, and everyone especially loves a Calistoga parade. This has been true since the North Napa Valley town’s inception. Some of the earliest photos in the archives of Calistoga’s Sharpsteen Museum are of parades down Lincoln Ave., Calistoga’s main street, featuring uniformed town bands, horse drawn fire rigs and lots of spectators lining the street (not a sidewalk in sight). This was a fairly typical display of town pride found throughout the country during the 19th century, but Calistoga, unlike many small towns across the U.S., has continued that tradition.

A wonderful 1913 photo of a San Francisco street scene shows a huge hotel-top billboard advertising “Big Doings in Calistoga July 4th”. Big doings still happen in Calistoga every Independence Day when the city hosts the Napa County Fair which is always held over the Fourth of July, and when the historic and non-typical Silverado Parade takes place.

Where else but in this little slice of Americana can you see a float by the local Mishewal Wappo Tribe followed by a hundred Harley Davidson “hogs,” several antique fire engines, the entire graduating class of a Japanese high-school (it’s their annual class trip tradition), a family float celebrating Mom’s 50th birthday, horses, bands and assorted local politicians. Of course the “fun” keeps being more and more restricted by modern sensibilities … for instance the water fights between spectators and firemen are no longer allowed. But in deference, one must admit the fireworks displays at the Fairgrounds on the night of the fourth have only grown better with time.

There was a parade revolt which lasted from the 1930’s till the 1950’s which rather than limit, added to the parade venue by creating a parody event called the Rotten Parade. The aim, at least of the younger participants, was to disgust their elders, while the participating elders seemed be intent on the display of their lack of talent (and this was before Karaoke). While this event is long past, there are many here in the Valley who have fond memories of some outrageous display in this truly ad-hoc community happening.

While all of Calistoga’s parades are centered on its main street, Lincoln Ave, they run from the strictly local, such as the high school homecoming parade to the regional, such as the Napa Valley Cinco de Mayo parade. This is the largest in the North Bay, and features live broadcast by Spanish language radio and TV. The parade is immediately followed by a family oriented festival at the fairgrounds featuring music and dance exhibitions and some of the best ethnic noshing you’ll find…try the grilled Mexican corn on a stick slathered with butter and chili! (Preferably AFTER trying the climbing wall).

In the fall, a favorite is the Halloween Parade held just after dark which gives the kids a chance to parade their costumes in public. Kids did I say, well more like the less inhibited of all ages. One of the hot items sought out by participants are the light-sticks handed out by the police department on the excuse of safety, but we all know they’re just plain fun. Following the parade the costumed kids continue on to the Fairgrounds for a party sponsored by a local service club while the costumed (or not) adults head to parties at local restaurants or residences.

Ending Calistoga’s annual parade season is the Napa Valley Lighted Tractor Parade held on the first Saturday in December each year. This salute to the agricultural heritage of the Napa Valley is held just after dark and all entries are wildly decorated and lighted making a colorful start to the holiday season. Downtown merchants along the Lincoln Ave. parade route hold open houses purveying hot cider (and other beverages best unmentioned) along with cookies and other goodies, to the crowds wandering the streets. Those in the know, will have already booked their dinner reservations for after the parade so they will not be left wandering the cold street looking through the windows at the snug diners.