Parade time in Pleasanton

Pleasanton is ready to usher in the festive season this weekend with its annual Hometown Holiday Celebration — complete with one major policy change from the city that all but guarantees downtown will have its holiday parade for just the second time since 2018.

The entire event will happen rain or shine in 2023, meaning people won’t have to wait with bated breath looking at the rain forecast that afternoon while facing the prospect of disappointment that the parade and/or tree lighting will be canceled a couple hours beforehand. The new policy is a win-win for the whole community, according to city officials.

“This year, the city officially changed the parade to ‘rain or shine’ to avoid the stress of a last-minute ‘go/no go’ decision,” city communications manager Heather Tiernan told the Weekly. “Our volunteers, participants and staff put so much work into the event and the last-minute decision is stressful for everyone involved. With the knowledge that the parade is on, people can plan accordingly based on weather. Of course, if it rains some technical capabilities will be limited, but the show will go on!”

A popular event that symbolizes the start of the winter season in Pleasanton, the parade down Main Street usually draws thousands of onlookers to watch dozens of floats, cars, trucks and groups afoot decked out in the spirit of the holidays. Many then make their way to the center of downtown for the ceremonial tree lighting that evening.

But the parade has been called off twice in the previous four years due to the city’s rule about inclement weather scrapping the celebration — the cancellation in 2020 was due to COVID-19 pandemic restrictions.

Pleasanton officials held out as long as they could before making the call last year to cancel the parade an hour and a half before the start time for safety reasons due to rain, but they went ahead with the tree lighting ceremony at an earlier time. Neighboring Livermore, meanwhile, presented its holiday parade that same night amid wintry weather under its rain-or-shine policy.

Pleasanton will be following suit this Saturday (Dec. 2), with no forecast restriction inhibiting its festivities. The parade will begin promptly at 5 p.m. and the tree lighting, with musical entertainment and a special visit from Santa and Mrs. Claus, will follow around 6:45 p.m. or shortly after the procession ends.

“The Hometown Holiday Parade is always a family-fun event. Come out and celebrate with the City Council as we light the Christmas tree in front of the Museum on Main. It’s one of my favorite events of the year,” Mayor Karla Brown told the Weekly. “I’m going to bring my umbrella and be ready to celebrate … but the weather report looks good.”

Tiernan said there are 85 entrants registered to participate in what will be the city’s first holiday parade since 2021. For more information, visit www.hometownholiday.com.

“The city is excited to bring together people of all backgrounds, cultures and beliefs to celebrate a common theme this holiday season — joy, community and family,” Tiernan added. “The parade also brings together the many local businesses, organizations, schools and community groups that make Pleasanton such a special place.”

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