Sidney Moffet Long of Superior Fruit Ranch will be the grand marshal for the annual Ceres Street Faire Parade which will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, May 6.
Long, who is a longtime Ceres farmer, was chosen around this year's theme, "Ceres - Goddess of Agricultural." This is the 111th year his family has been farming in Ceres. In the 1940's, Sidney grew-up in a home that was located at the corner of Moffett and Whitmore Avenue; on the site of the Richland Shopping Center. The Moffet-Long home was moved from its original location to Mitchell Road where it is the La Cascada Mexican Restaurant.
The California Horsemen's Association and Color Guard have partnered with the Street Faire Parade to host their State Parade. The parade is a Sanctioned Forward Motion Parade. Parade judges are from out of the area and are with Pacific Coast Judges Association. The horse judging is conducted by CA State Horsemen's Association judges.
The cost to enter the parade is $20 for a business, free for a non-profit or class or club associated with CUSD, and $75 for political entries. For a parade application email ceressfparade@gmail.com. Sponsorship opportunities are available. The application deadline is April 22.
To help generate excitement for the parade, the Ceres Street Faire Parade Poster Contest will be returning for a second year. Ceres Unified School District, ACES program, is organizing the contest in partnership with the Parade Committee. Contestants are asked to draw a poster using the poster contest theme.
The theme of the poster contest is "Central Valley agriculture." CUSD students may participate in the poster contest through the ACES program. Entries from kindergartners will be judged as a class. Other categories are first through third grades; fourth through sixth grades; seventh and eighth grades; and high school.
Any medium may be used and can include markers, crayons or pencils. Drawings will need to be done on a 11" by 14" sheet of white paper. All posters must include a student information label on the reverse side that includes a name, contact number and school. All winners are invited to participate in the parade (a pickup will be provided for them to ride and check in time is at 9:30 a.m.
All entries will be displayed at the Street Faire on Saturday, May 6 and all entrants will receive a certificate of appreciation. Winners will be recognized with a ribbon or trophy at a 2:30 p.m. award ceremony at the Street Faire on Saturday, May 6 at Whitmore Park Stage.
All high school entries will be judged together. Winning poster will be screen printed on this year's parade T-shirts. The first place winner will receive $100, second place will receive $50 and third place will receive $25.
Those living within Ceres Unified School District, but not enrolled in the ACES program, may still participate. Posters may be delivered to the School District: Attention to ASSES Alma and must be received by March 7.
The parade will start at Smyrna Park at the corner of Fowler and Moffett), and travel south on Moffett and west onto Whitmore Avenue. The park will disband North Street at Fifth Street, unless the entry is making its way in the car show. Each entry must complete the entire route before disbanding.
Sections of Rose Avenue, Moffett Road, Acorn Lane, Henry Avenue, Fowler and Whitmore Avenue will be closed for parade staging and routing.
The entire community is invited to come out and enjoy the parade.
For more information email ceressfparade@gmail.com.
A schedule of the specific events will be announced to the public when the Street Faire guide is produced in April.
