June 20, 2022
FIRECRACKER MILE FUN RUN REGISTRATION HERE
The Truckee Chamber of Commerce is thrilled to bring back the Truckee 4th of July Parade after a two-year break. This must-attend event is the quintessential display of small town Americana. This year’s theme is “4th of July – A Community Tradition.” Festive and fun-filled, it is always a favorite and a true Truckee tradition with many families having come for generations and generations. If you want a premier viewing location, get up early as avid parade spectators put their folding chairs out at their favorite spot right at daybreak. The parade starts at 10:00 am following the Firecracker Mile at 9:45 am on July 4th!
Still time to enter, but hurry!
Parade entry deadline is July 2nd at 5:00 pm. Parade entry fee is $75; $65 for nonprofits. If your entry has more than one vehicle, the entry fee is $85; $75 for nonprofits. Parade entries are done online by visiting www.Truckee.com.
Parade Grand Marshal
This year’s Parade Grand Marshal is Mayor Courtney Henderson. Courtney was elected to Truckee Town Council in November 2020, and named Mayor in December 2021. Courtney grew up in a rural, agricultural town of less than 2,000 people. She fell in love with Truckee in 2011 (on a mountain biking trip) when she found the same sense of community and connection to the land with which she grew up. She planted roots in Truckee shortly thereafter, integrating herself within the community and starting a family. She is thrilled to be the Grand Marshal of the parade and excited for its return as it is such a well-loved tradition in the community.
Parade Details
Truckee’s July 4th parade begins at 10:00 a.m. at the west end of town (with staging at Truckee High School), and progresses 1-1/2 miles down Donner Pass Road into historic Truckee, ending around noon. 101.5FM Truckee Tahoe Radio will provide music and announce from the beginning of the parade, Jim Simon and Ravn Whitington of Porter Simon will return once again as the MC’s announcing the parade from downtown. Crux Events provides the upbeat, rousing music downtown, as well as the judges stand. The lovely Mountain Belles will be singing their beautiful harmonies of patriotic songs downtown while the crowd awaits the first floats. Truckee Tahoe Media will be filming the parade and can be watched at a later date on Suddenlink Channel 18 or online at www.truckeetahoemedia.com.
The parade will start with the Tahoe-Truckee Cadet Squadron of the Civil Air Patrol’s presentation of the colors. Then let the party begin with a parade of fire trucks sounding their horns, police cars and their sirens, big rig trucks, classic cars, horses, local nonprofits and organization floats.
A Crowd Favorite: The Truckee River Drill Team
The Truckee River Drill Team has been a crowd favorite in Truckee’s 4th of July Parade for many, many years. They have more trophies than they know what to do with! No matter how many times people have seen them, they look forward to it every year and ALWAYS laugh, smile and love watching them!! Their irreverent style, made-up “precision” moves, hodgepodge “uniforms” of Hawaiian boots, zinc oxide and Sorel boots is classic Truckee. Bill Palmer was the creative genius and driving force behind this long-time Truckee tradition. Back in 1986 Bill owned Sun ‘n Snow Sports (where The Backcountry is today) and with plenty of skis sitting in storage, the idea came to round up some Rotarians and create a “drill team” parade entry. It is a throwback and homage to Truckee’s early days. Bill’s legacy continues today and has been creating memories for parade attendees for over 35 years.
In 2005, the Truckee River Drill Team “took their show on the road” bringing the Truckee spirit to Chicago, Illinois marching in their “signature style” at the Rotary International Conference parade. “Most of the Truckee River Drill Team and all the equipment went with the group on Amtrak from Truckee to Chicago. We were one of about 100 floats/teams in the parade down the Miracle Mile celebrating the 100th anniversary of Rotary. There were about 20 Rotarians in the group and it was the experience of a lifetime!!” – Proud Rotarian
Parade Categories for Trophies (and bragging rights) & Judges
Trophies will be given for Best of Show, and winner in each five classifications: Commercial (representing a business), Youth Group (18-years old and younger), Classic Auto, Open (your group doesn’t fit into any other category), and Non-Profit. Watching all the festivities from the judges stand, scoring all entries for the trophies will be Chamber Board Chair Emily Vitas and long-time parade judges and locals Mike and Sandy Horn.
Parade Filming
Truckee Tahoe Media will be filming the parade and it will be live-streamed on their website at www.ttctv.org, broadcast on cable Channel 6 and 18, and available as video-on-demand after July 4th.
The parade is put on by the Truckee Chamber of Commerce in partnership with the Town of Truckee, with logistical support from Big Blue Adventures. To register for the parade, CLICK HERE.
THANKS TO ALL OUR SPONSORS!
101.5FM Truckee Tahoe Radio; Alison Bermant, Attorney at Law; Auburn Ski Club; Burger Me; Cabona’s; Crux Events; Don Geresy Construction; Elder Group Tahoe Real Estate – Engel & Volkers; Grizzly Menswear; Grocery Outlet; Lahontan Golf Club; Mark Tanner Construction; Martis Camp Club; Mountain Arts Collective; Mountain Home Center; Oasis Broadband; Pacific Crest Wealth Planning – John Manocchio; Quality Automotive Servicing; Rotary Club of Truckee; Sierra Sun; Soroptimist International of Truckee Donner; Tahoe Forest Health System; Tahoe Mountain Sports; Truckee Downtown Merchants Association; The Tree House; Trinkie Watson; Truckee Donner Historical Society; Truckee Tahoe Airport District; Truckee Tahoe Media; and Truckee Tahoe Pet Lodge.
Their commitment to this community celebration is invaluable in the production of the parade.
HELP SUPPORT THIS COMMUNITY TRADITION! PARADE SPONSORSHIP INFO HERE
Leave the car behind, forget the parking hassles, be safe and take the free shuttle service to and from the parade!
The Town of Truckee will offer free 4th of July shuttles from Prosser, Glenshire, Sierra Meadows, Donner Lake, Tahoe Donner, Brockway, and Northstar to downtown Truckee from 8:00 am-1:00 pm. CLICK HERE FOR SCHEDULE.
DONNER PASS ROAD: For the 4th of July Parade, please note Donner Pass Road will be CLOSED to traffic from approximately 9:15am-12:30pm from just west of Fire Station #92 by Truckee High School to Church Street downtown.
INTERSTATE 80: Westbound Exit #186 (Central Truckee) is closed to traffic from approximately 10:00am-12:30pm.
From dawn to nightfall, it’s a full day of fun! Here’s a rundown of all the activities!
Pancake Breakfast – 7:00-10:00 am
Start your day by fueling up at the Annual 4th of July Pancake Breakfast put on by the Truckee Fire Protection District. Held in Station 92 (11473 Donner Pass Road next to Wild Cherries) from 7:00 to 10:00 am. The event is free (donations appreciated, but not required) and a great way to start your holiday. Who doesn’t love hot pancakes off the griddle with butter and maple syrup on a beautiful summer day? Sit side by side with friendly people laughing and joining in the camaraderie. Fire District logo merchandise is available for purchase.
Firecracker Mile Fun Run – 9:45 am
Get in a bit of cardio burst before chilling out for the parade and a sun-filled day of barbecues, beer, and beach by doing the Firecracker Mile Fun Run. This is a one-mile “gravity-fed” fun event for all ages and abilities. The race starts at 9:45 am just before the parade at US Bank on Donner Pass Road and finishes downtown at the train depot in the heart of all the crowds. This is definitely a family, kid-friendly, dog-friendly event. Run, jog, quick or casual walk with baby in stroller – all work! Runners are encouraged to wear festive attire and are cheered on by thousands of parade spectators. This is a fundraiser for the Auburn Ski Club. REGISTER ONLINE or go into Tahoe Mountain Sports in the Safeway Center.
4th of July Festivities and Fireworks at West End Beach – 1:30-10:30 pm
Tickets on sale now! Click here for all the details!
Cost is $10 in advance only from the Truckee Donner Recreation and Park District (no tickets at the gate on July 4th). The West End Beach event is for Truckee residents and homeowners and you must show some proof to purchase tickets. Tickets are limited to 7 tickets per adult in the household.
Enjoy a full day 4th of July party at West End Beach, with fireworks at dusk. Spend the day with family, friends and the Truckee community with a day at the beach, listen and dance to music, play games, eat BBQ, and watch the fireworks. Gates to the beach open at 9:00 am, games and bands start at 1:30 pm, and fireworks are at 9:30 pm. Donner Lake gets super busy on this day – the 37 public piers fill up really early as do the shoreline beaches. People watch the fireworks from their boats or kayaks – being sure to have the proper lighting and safety gear. For fewer crowds head up Old Highway 40 toward Sugar Bowl and find a big granite rock to throw a blanket on and take in the fireworks over the lake. When fireworks are over, go westbound on Old Hwy 50 toward Soda Springs and take eastbound I-80 back to Truckee to avoid extended delays. Or head up to the Glacier Trail in Tahoe Donner for a short walk to a good vantage point – warm jackets and flashlights are a must.
