Funny, it doesn't look a day over 87. This Saturday, Palo Alto's annual May Fete Children's Parade marches through downtown for the 88th time.

The May 1 parade starts at 10 a.m. at the corner of Emerson Street and University Avenue. This year's theme is "Free to be ... me!" with Palo Altan Terri Valenti as grand marshal. Valenti is a professional-football official who has worked with the United Football League and officiated at various school levels.

The parade features festive decorated floats, school marching bands and oodles of children high-stepping, skating, tumbling and cycling. Youth groups have already signed up, but parade organizers say that kids who come to the event by 9:30 a.m. can still march in one of three categories: kids with pets, kids in costume and kids on wheels.

After the parade ends at 1 p.m., Partners in Education will host the annual PiE Fair with games, music and refreshments at Addison Elementary School, 650 Addison Ave.

The May Fete Parade is presented by the City of Palo Alto's recreation division, with sponsors including the Palo Alto Weekly and the Palo Alto Recreation Foundation, which will also present the city's annual Black and White Ball on Oct. 2. For details about the parade, go to www.cityofpaloalto.org/recreation or call 650-463-4921.