Petaluma’s famous Veterans Day Parade returns to downtown

Veterans Day is Friday, Nov. 11, and that means downtown Petaluma will be packed for the annual Petaluma Veterans Day Parade, the largest celebration of its kind in the North Bay.

This year’s parade honors Korean War veterans. The free event starts with live music at noon at Walnut Park at Petaluma Boulevard and D Street. The parade starts at 1 p.m., with 89-year-old Petaluma Korean War veteran Paul Lewis riding as grand marshal.

Afterward, attendees will return to Walnut Park for the Pledge of Allegiance, prayer and guest speakers – all in honor of those who served their country in the U.S. military. That ceremony starts around 2:45 p.m.

The parade, back for a second consecutive year following a pandemic hiatus, will take its usual downtown route, and road closures and traffic delays are expected.

The parade begins at Walnut Park at 4th and D Streets, continuing north along 4th to Kentucky Street, turning right onto East Washington Street, and heading back up Petaluma Boulevard North to end at Walnut Park. Parade announcers will be located at the Petaluma Museum, Putnum Plaza, in front of the Hideaway Bar and at 4th and C streets.

Celebrants should watch the skies as well for the flyover and landing of Vietnam-era Huey Helicopter and various other military aircraft.

Organizers say the pre-pandemic 2019 parade featured more than 2,000 participants, with an estimated crowd size of approximately 40,000.

For more information, go to petalumaveteransparade.com.