The Crosstown Showdown Parade will return again this year on a different day of the week and at a new location.
Designed to amplify community spirit and support prior to game between crosstown high school football rivals, the event will take place this Saturday, beginning and end at Whitmore Park in downtown Ceres.
The parade is to start at 11 a.m. and be over by 1 p.m.
The Crosstown Showdown football game between Ceres’ two comprehensive high schools is a beloved annual tradition. Last year, the city of Ceres and the Ceres Unified School District partnered to hold a first-ever Crosstown Showdown Parade. The parade included football players, cheerleaders, bands, color guards and dancers from both Ceres High School and Central Valley High School as well as city and school district at Smyrna Park. This year the event takes place at Whitmore Park.
The parade will step off from Whitmore Park and head up Third Street, passing Ceres Fire Station #15 and the Ceres Police headquarters before turning right onto Magnolia Street, right again at Fourth Street, and right onto Lawrence Street, then looping back onto Third Street to end at the park. The city has notified area residents and business owners that parts of Magnolia, Lawrence, Third and Fourth streets will be closed to vehicular traffic from 10 a.m. to noon on Saturday.
Free tacos and water will be available during the parade. Parade-goers are encouraged to bring lawn chairs and walk or carpool to the parade.
Limited parking will be available at the Ceres Unified School District Office, 2503 Lawrence Street. There will not be parking available at the Ceres Community Center.
“Last year, the parade took things to a different level,” noted Central Valley High School Principal Casey Giovannoni. “It was neat, it was really exciting. It went well beyond the scope of the schools. What I saw was a citywide event. It was a Ceres event – not a Ceres High School event, not a Central Valley event, but the city of Ceres really connecting and bonding.”
Game day will be on Friday, Sept. 1. Tickets will be limited and available to the general public beginning Saturday, August 26 at 1 p.m. Visit www.ceres.k12.ca.us and click Crosstown Showdown under “News” for purchasing information once tickets are available. The game is expected to sell out and there will be no ticket sales at the gate.
