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May Fete Parade returns to Palo Alto Saturday
Annual Children's Parade will have bookish theme this year

by Karla Kane

Palo Alto's annual May Fete Children's Parade returns for the 89th year this Saturday (May 7) at 10 a.m., starting at the corner of Emerson Street and University Avenue.

The parade, featuring group floats, marching bands and costumed kids, will travel down University, turn right onto Webster Street and end at Addison Elementary School.

The theme for this year's parade is "Books are Hidden Treasures — Dig In!" and was chosen to reflect the Developmental Assets program recently adopted by the city to support healthy youth development. Reading for pleasure is one of the featured assets.

The grand marshals of this year's parade will be a group of 15 elementary students — named the "Palo Alto Reading Stars" — selected by elementary school and Children's Library staff for either their enthusiasm for reading or for their progress in reading skills, according to Minka van der Zwaag, from Palo Alto's Office of Human Services.

"We want to honor those children who have a love of reading or who've made great strides and give them a real boost," she said.

Children interested in participating in the parade may check in by 9:30 a.m. on Saturday and are encouraged to wear theme-appropriate costumes, such as dressing as a favorite book character.

Before and during the parade, a reading and literacy fair will be held at Lytton Plaza. Donations of used children's books, to be given to library projects in Ghana and Malawi, may be dropped off at Lytton Plaza between 9 and 11 a.m. on Saturday (May 7), or at Lucie Stern Community Center by Friday (May 6).

After the parade, Partners in Education will hold a fair at Addison Elementary, including music by school bands, food and games, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

More information on the May Fete event from the City of Palo Alto is available at www.cityofpaloalto.org.