A community keystone

June Casagrande

The Rose Parade? That’s fine for the rest of the country. The Macy’s

Thanksgiving Day Parade? Sure, that one’s OK, too. But on Balboa

Island, no parade is more beloved than the annual Balboa Island

Parade.

“It’s a celebration of the Balboa Island community,” said Craig

Page, chairman of next weekend’s parade. “Everyone’s involved,

everyone comes out, everyone supports it.”

The fanfare is so huge that it’s easy to forget that, in one way,

the parade is tiny: It’s only 2 1/2 blocks long, beginning at the

Balboa Island Bridge and proceeding along Marine Avenue to the fire

station.

But whatever you do, don’t confuse it with any other parade.

Neither the somber remembrance of a Veteran’s Day parade nor the

irreverent style of Pasadena’s Doo-Da Parade is an apt parallel.

“Don’t confuse it with something like the Doo-Da Parade,” Page

said. “That’s not what it’s about. ... It’s about Balboa Island.

“The nice thing about Balboa island is there is no class or caste

system,” he said. “There are people with a lot of money, and there

are people with no money, and they all dress and act the same. That’s

what brings them together and makes this such a success.”

The parade, now celebrating its 10-year anniversary, will take

place at 10 a.m. June 1.

Antique cars, floats, live music and, as always, the island’s own

Keystone Kops will highlight the event. The Ensign Junior High

Marching Band, the Orange County Fire Authority Pipes and Drum Corps,

from St. John Vianney Chapel Choir, and surf band the Surfaris will

provide live entertainment.

Mayor Steve Bromberg and Fire Chief Tim Riley will rededicate the

fire station, whose creation 10 years ago inspired the first Balboa

Island Parade.

“The parade’s a hoot and a half,” said Bromberg, who’s also one of

the Keystone Kops. “It’s the ultimate community event.”