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Everything You Need to Know About Alameda’s 4th of July Parade

by Post Staff Reporting On In Alameda Life | Comments Disabled

Alameda’s 4th of July Parade is one of the most popular events held in the city. Hailed as the longest in the nation, the parade covers a 3.3-mile route and this year it will feature 185 registered entries and 2,500 participants, including marching bands, dance groups, community organizations, equestrians, floats, adorable kids, antique cars, and VIPs. 60,000 spectators are expected to line the route to get a view of the entries as they pass by to honor America’s 250th birthday during the 49th annual parade. 2026 marks 51 years since the first parade was held in Alameda, but it is only the 49th actual parade because it was canceled for two years during the COVID-19 pandemic from 2020-21.

Alameda Post - horses and their riders in a parade [1]
Photo by Maurice Ramirez.

This year Representative Lateefah Simon will lead the procession as Honorary Grand Marshal. She is the Representative for California’s 12th Congressional District, which includes Alameda, Oakland, Berkeley, Piedmont, Emeryville, Albany, and San Leandro.

Chief Nick Luby and the Alameda Fire Department (AFD) have been tapped to serve as the Grand Marshals. The women and men of the AFD are celebrating 150 years of service to the community, protecting and saving lives and property, and will be featured at the front of the parade just behind Representative Simon.

Alameda Post - a fire truck in a parade [2]
Photo by Maurice Ramirez.

At 8:30 on Saturday morning, the Alameda 4th of July Run [3] will take place along the route before the parade. The 5K run or walk is to benefit the Midway Shelter. This year, a free shuttle will be available to runners to bring them back from the end of the run to the start of the parade.

The parade will then start at 10 a.m. from the corner of Park Street and Lincoln Avenue and follow a path south along Park Street, then turn west on Otis Drive. After passing the judging stand in front of the Lum School property, the route turns north along Grand Street until heading west again along Encinal Avenue. At Webster Street, the route heads north again until ending at Lincoln Avenue. The last entry is expected to reach the finish line around 1 p.m.

Alameda Post - A map of the parade route for the 4th of July parade. [4]
Map by the City of Alameda.

Although there is no defined etiquette about reserving spaces, residents will often put out beach chairs and other items to designate their viewing place for the parade in advance, and many will appear along the route over the next few days. If you haven’t “reserved” a space, you may still be able to find a good viewing spot along Otis Drive or take your chances with other parts of the route.

The City will post “No Parking” signs along the route and staging areas on either end of Lincoln Avenue, encouraging vehicle owners to move by 4 a.m. Saturday morning; all vehicles still parked in the way as of 5 a.m. will be subject to towing.

Once streets are closed for the parade at 7 a.m., vehicle traffic will be detoured around the parade route. Only four crossing points will be available once the parade starts: Park Street at Santa Clara Avenue, Otis Drive at Willow Street, Encinal Avenue at Paru Street, and Webster Street at Santa Clara Avenue.

Restrooms

Nine locations will feature portable restrooms available for use during the parade, and five of them are wheelchair accessible (numbered in yellow):

  1. 2022 Lincoln Avenue – 1 standard, 1 wheelchair accessible (ADA) and 1 wash station.
  2. 1539 Walnut Street – 2 standard.
  3. 1550 Oak Street – 3 standard, 1 wheelchair accessible (ADA) and 1 wash station.
  4. 1420 Park Street – 6 standard, 1 wheelchair accessible (ADA) and 2 wash stations.
  5. 1125 Park Street – 2 standard.
  6. 1801 Sand Creek Way – 1 standard and 1 wash station.
  7. 704 Central Avenue – 1 standard, 1 wheelchair accessible (ADA) and 1 wash station.
  8. 1528 Webster Street – 2 standard, 1 wheelchair accessible (ADA) and 1 wash station.
  9. 1601 Webster Street – 1 standard.
Alameda Post - A map of all the parade restroom locations. [5]
Map by the City of Alameda.

Information about all the entries and their order in the procession is available from the City’s parade program [6] [PDF] which also includes maps of the route, detours, and available restrooms. The weather forecast for Saturday morning is partly to mostly cloudy with temperatures in the low to mid 60s. Bringing sunblock and water and wearing a hat and other gear to protect you from the sun is recommended.

After the parade is over, you can head over to the USS Hornet, which is hosting the Steel Beach Party & BBQ. Tickets are available online [7]. Admission for adults is $35, or $100 for the family (adults and 2 youth). Find more activities for the holiday weekend [8] on Alameda Post’s community event calendar.

AC Transit Bus Service Detours

Effective: 5:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Saturday, July 4
Lines affected: 30, 31, 51A, 96 & O

30 to Dimond District
Stops closed:
Alternatives:

Line 30 to Dimond District will temporarily serve Line 51A to Fruitvale BART stops.

30 to Downtown Oakland
Stops closed:
Alternatives:

Line 30 to Downtown Oakland will temporarily serve Line 51A to Rockridge BART stops.

31 to Chabot Space & Science Center
Stops closed:
Alternatives:
31 to Bay Farm Island
Stops closed:
Alternatives:
51A to Fruitvale BART / O to Fruitvale BART
Stops closed:
Alternatives:
51A to Rockridge BART / O to San Francisco
Stops closed:
Alternatives:
96 to Dimond District
Stops closed:
Alternatives:
96 to Alameda Point
Stops closed:
Alternatives: