City ready for Saturday’s Patriots Day Parade
Blue skies are predicted this year for the 49th Patriots Day Parade, set for Saturday in Laguna Beach.
Because rain caused the event to be canceled last year, the 2014 honorees will return this year. They include Olympic gold medal swimmer and Laguna resident Janet Evans as grand marshal.
The parade — the theme this year is Home of the Free Because of the Brave — will begin at 11 a.m. at Park Avenue and Legion Street and proceed along Glenneyre Street and Forest Avenue, ending just past City Hall.
The city has announced the closure of Forest Avenue and Third Street, Glenneyre Street between Legion Street and Forest Avenue, and Park Avenue between St. Ann’s Drive and Glenneyre Street between 10 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Saturday.
The city will text and email traffic alert reminders to subscribers beginning Friday afternoon. To subscribe to this free service, visit lagunabeachcity.net.
Special trolley service will begin at 9 a.m. The trolleys will operate on Coast Highway from Cajon Street in north Laguna to Mission Hospital in South Laguna.
In addition to Evans, honorees will include former U.S. Army Air Corps pilot Robert Mosier, the event’s Honored Patriot; former Laguna Beach Mayor Wayne Baglin, Citizen of the Year; world champion surfers Alisa Schwarzstein Cairns and Ian Cairns, Athletes of the Year; Laguna Beach High School seniors Janie Crawford and Taylor Addis, the Junior Citizens of the Year; and Carol Reynolds, Artist of the Year.
The 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing Band from the U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, which was in the first parade in 1967, will provide music.
At the conclusion of the parade, an awards ceremony will take place at the Art-A-Fair/Tivoli Too grounds at 777 Laguna Canyon Road.
If inclement weather should force the cancellation of the parade, updates will be sent to traffic alert subscribers, a notice will be posted on the city’s website and signs will be placed along the parade route.
For more information, visit lagunabeachparade.org.