Cycling Fever Hits Santa Rosa at the 122nd Annual Luther Burbank Rose Parade & Festival

The 122nd Annual Luther Burbank Rose Parade & Festival will set hearts racing as the Parade and the AMGEN Tour of California Cycling Competition will be occurring in tandem on Saturday, May 21 in Downtown Santa Rosa as participants decorate to the theme of Re-Cycling Into The Future. Award winning floats, marching groups, non-profits and school bands will fill the streets with exciting bicycle and recycling themed entries as they celebrate the day!

Breast cancer survivor, advocate and award-winning journalist Joan Lunden is the Grand Marshall of the 122nd Annual Luther Burbank Rose Parade and Festival. Lunden is an ambassador for Amgen’s Breakaway from Cancer, and will be joined by a group of 200 cancer survivors.

Santa Rosa Recycling & Collection is again our Presenting Sponsor. In 2008, the parade was struggling financially with the downturn in the economy, the Ratto Family and the late Henry Trione stepped up and became major supporters of this 122-year old tradition to insure the parade would thrive and succeed for years to come. This year the ever-popular Clown Corps will be transported through the parade in an antique trash hauler also provided by Santa Rosa Recycling and Collection.

Joining us for the first time as a major sponsor is Sutter Health – they are a division sponsor of the parade and have sponsored our VIP Vehicles. The parade and festival relies on the generous support from local community sponsors and local businesses. We are able to celebrate the schools, non-profits and our community at this one-day event thanks to Santa Rosa Recycling & Collection, Trione Vineyards & Winery, Sutter Health, City of Santa Rosa, County of Sonoma, Bibi’s Burger Bar/The County Bench, Friedman’s Home Improvement, Luther Burbank Savings, Manzana Products, The Press Democrat, Redwood Credit Union, Tri Counties Bank and YSN365.com.

This year, in addition to the two-hour parade, there will be a Community Festival from 9:00 am to 4:30 pm in Downtown Santa Rosa with food vendors, kids’ activities, live entertainment, the Parade awards and more, including the Amgen Tour of California Men’s and Women’s Races. It will be a busy day Downtown, be sure to head down early to get the best curbside spot to view the Parade!

The Luther Burbank Rose Parade & Festival is one of the oldest and largest parades in Northern California. Make plans to join your friends and neighbors as we celebrate the best the community has to offer at the 122nd Annual Luther Burbank Rose Parade. Visit the web site at www.roseparadefestival.com for more information. For information on the Amgen Tour of California and street closures go to TourROSA.com.