DAVIS, Calif. (April 19, 2021) — The popular Picnic Day Parade and the Davis Children’s Christmas Parade were canceled by the pandemic. But the community is invited to enjoy a do-it-yourself parade Saturday, April 24, to honor Davis Enterprise columnist and sportswriter Bob Dunning on his 51-plus years with the newspaper.
All types of vehicles — cars, trucks, bikes and other wheeled contraptions — are welcome, and decorations are encouraged. Participants (no registration is required) are asked to gather before 11 a.m. Saturday in the Veterans Memorial Center parking lot, 203 E. 14th St.
The parade will make a huge loop featuring 1.4 miles of right turns only. Coming out of the parking lot, vehicles will head west on 14th Street, pass Dunning and his family in front of Davis High School on the corner of 14th and Oak Avenue, turn north on Oak, then east on Covell Boulevard, south on F Street and west on 14th. Vehicles wishing to depart the parade may go straight or left at any point.
“If you’re having such a good time that you want to make a second loop, please feel free,” says Bob Bowen, retired city of Davis public relations manager, who will serve as the parade announcer.
As a COVID safety precaution, there will be no live spectators. However, the parade may be viewed on Facebook Live at www.facebook.com/TheDavisEnterpriseNewspaper. Davis Media Access also will be filming the parade for later viewing on its community access channel.
In addition to individual participants, the parade is expected to feature classic cars driven by members of the Davis Cruise-In, the UC Davis Aggie Pack’s blue-and-gold fire truck and a Unitrans double-decker bus. Members of the Cal Aggie Band have been invited to provide musical accompaniment near the reviewing stand, but they will not march in the parade due to COVID restrictions.
Parade participants are asked to avoid parking in the Stephens Davis Library parking lot. “We do not want to get in the way of the library’s important curbside service, which it is providing as a COVID safety measure,” says Nancy Keltner, an organizer of the celebration.
The parade wraps up a months-long celebration of Dunning’s unprecedented career. A virtual celebration featuring tributes from friends, family, colleagues and current and former elected officials can be seen on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d8JQBnfTOAc.
More than $42,000 has been collected to endow a scholarship in Dunning’s name. Annual $1,000 grants will be awarded to graduating seniors in the Davis school district who are considering a career in journalism.
To learn more about the parade, virtual show or scholarship, visit https://www.smartzgraphics.com/bob-dunning-scholarship.