By Hazel Ford–
A parade down Auburn Boulevard will kick off the annual Howl-O-Ween Harvest Festival this year. The parade, which begins at 9 a.m. on Oct. 21, will start at Twin Oaks Avenue and head towards Rusch Park where a free festival will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
According to a news release, the parade will include numerous floats, antique and unique vehicles, queens and princesses, local dignitaries, and “lots of children and dogs.” Other marchers include the Keystone Cop Patrol, River City Ghost Diggers, and the Citrus Heights Community Marching Band, which puts on the annual parade.
The band will also be displaying their latest creation, the 7-by-18-foot “Brassie.” Made entirely from old musical instruments, “Brassie” resembles a Tyrannosaurus Rex, and was created by Bill Cook, the band’s secondary program director.
Event coordinator Kathy Cook, who serves as program director for the marching band, also said a “surprise guest” will be in the parade. “A holiday icon who is currently vacationing in Hawaii has confirmed that he plans to stop off here to be in the parade before returning to his home up north – way up north,” Cook said in the news release, not mentioning the guest’s name.
Following the parade, a harvest festival will be held at Rusch Park, featuring a Kids Zone, Nor Cal Cruisers vehicles, and over 50 vendors — including craft, business, jewelry, martial arts, and food vendors. Fitting with the event’s “howl” theme, special booths will offer dog treats for canine guests, and the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals will also have a pet adoption kiosk.
Live performances will be provided by the marching band during the event, which is scheduled to perform musical pieces from Star Wars, ET, Jurassic Park, the Land of Race, and Cadillac of the Skies, in keeping with their “Fanfare for a New Age” theme. Performances by the Golden State Accordion Club and Citrus Heights Kaia Fit are also on schedule.
See event flier: citrusheights.net/DocumentCenter/View/8422
