New route finalized for Valleyfest parade

Valleyfest organizers have finally settled on a new location for the parade that is part of the annual community event.

For 14 years, Valleyfest was held in Terrace View Park. The parade started at Sprague and McDonald and traveled down McDonald, Saltese and Blake, before ending at the park. Organizers decided to move the Sept. 25 event to the new Mirabeau Meadows at Mirabeau Point Park to expand the event.

This year, the parade will start at University City North at 9 a.m., head north on University and end at Valley Mission Park.

People who want to watch the parade can catch a shuttle bus at Valley Mission Park or U-City that will take them to Mirabeau Meadows for other Valleyfest events.

“What we’ve heard from people is that they want a neighborhood parade,” said Valleyfest director Peggy Doering. “A lot of people talked to me about that. They wanted that neighborhood feel.”

Dale Harris has lived on Blake across from Terrace View for 36 years and has watched the parade from his front yard every year. “I think it’s a bad thing,” he said of Valleyfest leaving his neighborhood. “We’ll never (watch) it again. It’s way out in the sticks.

“It was our parade and festival. Our neighbors were all out.”

Even though all seven of his children participated in the parade at one time or another, Harris said he’s not planning to head to Mirabeau to check out the new location. “There’s no place to really park,” he said. “It’s out in the hot sun. There’s no shade.”

Jack Swanson lives around the corner from Harris on Saltese. While he’ll miss having a front row seat for the parade, he plans to go the event in its new location.

“We loved it when it was here,” he said. “Things change. That’s a much nicer facility. When it was here it was crowded.”

It was because of that crowding that organizers decided to move the event. The new location will allow several additions. The Valley YMCA, next to Mirabeau Meadows, will open its facilities to the public that day. That includes its swimming pools and new skate park. Several teen bands will also perform there.

There will be the usual vendors and nonprofit booths, but organizers have also added a juried art show. Early interest in the show is good, Doering said. “I think this is going to be a real go,” she said.

A short children’s parade will take place in the park during the afternoon. The usual favorites – the pancake breakfast and fun run – will also be held. The run will start at the Valley Mall at 8 a.m. and end at the park.

Doering knows that parking will likely be a challenge. Parking will be available at the Valley Mall, the neighboring Pinecroft Business Park and Trent Elementary School. Shuttles will take people back and forth to their cars.

“There are 60 spots available at the park,” she said. “We have a lot reserved for handicapped parking.”