Parade! Celebrate Union City's 50th Anniversary! May 16, 2009

Union City is celebrating its 50th Anniversary with an awesome 65-unit parade that brings the prestige of the Olympic Games to the Bay Area.

Two hometown parade entries also starred in Beijing:
- Grand Marshal Vicky Galindo, Logan High graduate and 2008 Olympic women's softball silver medalist.
- Logan High School Marching Band and Color Guard, which performed last summer with the International Olympic Orchestra. The band seldom marches except in major events such as Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade or the Rose Parade, so this is a rare opportunity to see them perform.

Four other marching bands will join 14 floats, including the City of Union City, City of Newark, Paddy's Coffee, Hayward's Flor de Mexico, Irvington District, Union City Girl Scouts, and Fremont's Gurdwara Sahib.

Honored guests include California State Sen. Ellen Corbett.

The fabulous San Francisco Renegades Drum and Bugle Corps is among the specialty groups. Family of Clowns, Highland Warriors Kingdom of the Gael, and the Chinese Christian School Drill Team are among the others.

Alameda County Sheriff's Mounted Posse will be one of four equestrian units.

Marchers will range from the United States Army Color Guard to Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War.

Those planning to enjoy the car show afterwards will appreciate parade entries that include Brake-Away A's Model A Ford Club, Bay Bombs, Royal Cruisers and Los Lobos car clubs, as well as Island Thunder Motorcycle Club.

The 50th celebration would be incomplete without a giant birthday cake among the huge helium balloons floating along the parade route.

As if all that weren't enough, the UC50 Car Show and 16th Annual Asian-American Heritage Festival (an affiliated event) will be within walking distance the same day. All events are free.

Don't miss Union City's biggest party of the half-century. You'd hate to have to wait another 50 years.

No charge.

Official Website: http://www.unioncity50.com/documents/UC50_parade_announcement_2_final.pdf