Western Days Parade is this Saturday




Valley Center’s Honorary Mayor for 2013, Kiwanis member Jim Dorschel with Miss Valley Center and Rodeo Court.

Valley Center’s Honorary Mayor for 2013, Kiwanis member Jim Dorschel with Miss Valley Center and Rodeo Court.

Valley Center’s Honorary Mayor for 2013, Kiwanis member Jim Dorschel with Miss Valley Center and Rodeo Court.Valley Center’s biggest community day of the year, Western Days, will happen this Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The big event on Saturday will be the parade. This year’s theme is “Back to Basics.”

Also part of the weekend is the VC Stampede Rodeo (see story this page).

Things will start off with the Rotary Club Pancake breakfast in the parking at Valley Town Center. The breakfast takes place Saturday, May 25 from 7-10 a.m. in the parking lot of the Old Town Center (in front of Community Pharmacy). The event provides an opportunity to purchase a hearty breakfast for a good cause before finding a place to set up along the Western Days Parade route. Save money by purchasing presale tickets: $7 for adults, $5 for children (12 and under). Breakfast consists of pancakes, eggs, and sausage. Coffee, juice and milk are also included.

Organizers estimate that at least 100 units will take part (usually a few last minute entries don’t make it onto the program).

The Escondido Mounted Posse will be bringing in the colors at the head of the parade, followed by the other entries. This year, due to the sequestration battle between Congress and the President, there will be no U.S. Marine Corps Color Guard unit.

Grand Marshal of the parade is Amelia Villalobos of the San Pasqual Band of Mission Indians.

Copies of the official program will be handed out along the parade route and will be available in stacks near the announcers. They will also be available on the “shuttle” that will be driven by Mike McDonald and from stacks at the pancake breakfast (but don’t confuse them with those other stacks!)

The Ridgeview Church Preschool, which won the top award last year, the Dos Valles Garden Club with their very popular “March of Tines,” Miss Valley Center Taylor Yates, 1st Princess Julie Pregler, 2nd Princess Laura Sengestacke, Junior Miss (JM) Victoria Laird, and 1st Princess, Patricia Richardson. Fifth District Supervisor (and VC resident) Bill Horn, 75th District Assemblywoman Marie Waldron, Rodeo Queen Allie McCall and Junior Rodeo Queen Renee Terbush.

There will be scads of equestrian entries, including the Valley Center Vaqueros, Vista Palomar Riders, Majestic Acres. VC LAST (Large Animal Safety Team) will be in the parade and will have an information table. One of the most popular entries in the parade will be the San Diego Shriners and their Tin Lizzies, miniature cars.

The 2013 Stampede Rodeo Committee has decided to unofficially support the “Tough Enough to Wear Pink” although any proceeds collected at the Rodeo will go to the TETWP campaign.There will, of course, be fire trucks galore, and Western Heavy Equipment will have several, including X-Fallbrook-North County Fire 1971 CROWN Firecoach Pumper; X-Los Angeles County Fire Dept. 1958 CROWN Firecoach Crew Bus, X-Fallbrook Fire Dept. 1957 Dodge-Howe Brush Pumper, and X-Nevada Division of Forestry 1970 Crown (4X4) Brush Pumper.

The parade route will

The 2013 Stampede Rodeo Committee has decided to unofficially support the

The 2013 Stampede Rodeo Committee has decided to unofficially support the “Tough Enough to Wear Pink” although any proceeds collected at the Rodeo will go to the TETWP campaign.

follow the southbound lane of Valley Center Road and parade units will turn right at Lilac Road and finish near the VC Community Center. The road will be closed for one half hour after the end of the parade to allow parade watchers to clear out.

The VC Sheriff’s Dept., VC Sheriff Senior Volunteers and California Highway Patrol will be in charge of road closures.

After the parade the focus will shift over to the fairgrounds at VC Community Center and the adjacent Belanich property (site of the rodeo).

There will be a $4 charge for parking across the street at the VC Municipal Water District property on all three days. The funds raised will benefit CHP Explorer post 650.

After the parade join the Homesteaders 4-H Club for their annual barbecue from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. The menu consists of smoked beef & pork, baked beans, potato salad, coleslaw, roll and drink for the presale ticket price of $10/ adult and $5 /child for ages 11 and under. Prices at the door will be $1 more. Presale tickets are available from any member.

Charles Carr will MC the Western Days Community Fun Stage from 5-7 p.m. Friday and noon to 5 p.m. on Saturday. On Saturday they will open up the stage to members of the community who have stage acts, both professionals and talented amateurs. In between acts the Carr family, including wife, Marsi; son, Alex; and daughter, Sammi will play music, accompanied by a variety of friends.

Pick your favorite announcer along the route of the parade, which runs from Valley Center & Cole Grade Roads to Lilac Road.

David Ross will be at the corner of Valley Center Road & Lilac.

Charles Carr will be in front of the Valley Center Community Church.

Suzie Durant will be at Portino’s, near the corner of VC & Miller roads.

Bill Trok at Shoemaker Realty.

Diane Conaway at the corner of VC and Cole Grade Roads.

Cathy Davis will be at VC Road & Chaparral.

The parade begins at 10 a.m. and runs until about noon. Remember the parade route closes at 8:30 a.m.

Suggested detours:

Northbound—Woods Valley east (right) from Valley Center Road to N. Lake Wohlford. Then north (left) on N. Lake Wohlford to Valley Center Road. West (left) on Valley Center Road to MacTan. MacTan north (right) to Fruitvale. Fruitvale west (left) to Cole Grade, north (right) on Cole Grade which will connect with Hwy 76 in Pauma Valley.

Southbound—Cole Grade to Fruitvale, east (left) on Fruitvale to Mac Tan. Mac Tan south (right) to Valley Center Road. Valley Center Road east (left) to Lake Wohlford. N. Lake Wohlford south (right) to Woods Valley. Woods Valley west (right) to Valley Center Road or continue down N. Lake Wohlford past the Lake to the intersection of Valley Center Road at the bottom of the grade.


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