Big Parade, Celebration
Nevada City Sept. 8th-9th, 2007.
Each year since 1967, this lively little Sierra foothills town has celebrated the U.S. Constitution with a parade that is now recognized as the oldest and largest Constitution Day observance in Western America.
This year's 41st Annual Nevada City Constitution Day Parade moves through historic downtown Nevada City on Sunday, Sept. 9, beginning at 2 p.m.
With several hundred participants, the festive parade features at least seven marching bands and dozens of colorful entries, including the ever-popular Marching Presidents of Nevada City, who portray each U.S. President from George Washington to George Bush with varying degrees of historical accuracy, but always with lots of fun.
Grand marshal of the 2007 parade is Melvyn B. Stein, who is Grand Master of the California Masons. The Nevada City Masonic Lodge is a cosponsor of the parade.
The Sunday parade caps two days of festivities in historic Nevada City. Colorful, smoke-filled battle reenactments and living history exhibitions by the American Civil War Association are scheduled at 1 and 4 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. Sunday in Pioneer Park, a short walk from the downtown historic district. A pancake breakfast open to the public will be offered at the park's Seaman Lodge from 7-10 a.m. both Saturday and Sunday.
More than 200 military and settler reenactors are expected to take part in the Pioneer Park reenactments before joining in the Sunday parade.
Sunday's pre-parade activities on Broad Street include a free concert by the Nevada County Concert Band at 12:30 p.m. and a reenactment of the signing of the U.S. Constitution at 1:30 p.m. After the parade, the Ophir Prison Marching Kazoo Band performs a concert on Broad Street.
Known for its unique events and classic small town spirit, Nevada City has a population of just 3001 but swells by thousands on Constitution Day.
To ease parade traffic and parking concerns, a Sunday-only shuttle service from the Nevada County Government Center on Highway 49 will carry visitors to the downtown parade. Fares are $1 all day; those in period costumes and youths under 18 ride for free.
The Constitution Day celebration is sponsored by Nevada Lodge No. 13, F.&A.M., the 49er Breakfast Rotary Club of Nevada City and the Nevada City Constitution Day Committee.
Nevada City is located on the western slope of the Sierra, midway between Sacramento and Lake Tahoe. From Sacramento, take eastbound Interstate 80 to Auburn, then Highway 49 north. From the north valley, take eastbound Highway 20. From Reno and Tahoe, take westbound I-80 and state scenic route 20.
For a complete weekend schedule of events as well as lodging and other information, contact the Nevada City Chamber of Commerce, 132 Main Street, Nevada City, CA 95959. Call (530) 265-2692 or 1-800-655-NJOY.
