The Colony Days Parade is right around the corner, and it’s taking place on Saturday, Oct. 5, with all the regular fanfare you’d come to expect. This year, the streets will be filled with parade entries celebrating “Fifty Years of Fabulous Floats,” which is this year’s theme. While last year celebrated the 50th Anniversary of Colony Days as a whole, this year will honor the parade itself as people drive, walk, and ride on floats through the streets of the town they love so much, Atascadero!

Riding in and residing over the parade this year will be the 2024 Grand Marshal Karen McNamara and the 2024 Colony Days King and Queen Don and Janey Giessinger. They were first officially in Atascadero News on Sept. 19 and then announced in public to the residents who were invited to the Quota of Atascadero Tea. The tea took place on Sept. 29. All three were also given commemorative plaques at the Colony Days mixer, which took place on Oct. 2 in the main lobby of Colony Theatres, when they were inducted into Colony Days’ beautiful history. The event was open to all.

On top of all the parade fun, after a triumphant return last year, Tent City will be back again. Atascadero residents will be able to enjoy diving into a world of historical incite as the city of tents takes them back into what it was like to live in Atascadero when it was starting out as a colony. Expect fun, adventure, and some good old laughs as you trod through Sunken Gardens and are taken back in time.

And don’t forget the annual Colony Days dog costume contest, which always brings the community lots of smiles. The small and wiener dog races follow shortly after, and every year, they bring out the competitiveness of everyone’s favorite four-legged friends.

Make sure to come out and celebrate with our vibrant community. Say hello to some strangers, make new friends, and remind the old ones why it’s so great living here in Atascadero! 

Schedule of events for Saturday, Oct. 5

9 to 11 a.m.: Breakfast at Huckleberry’s at Tent City

10 a.m.: Colony Days Parade Sign up to be in the Parade!

After parade to 3 p.m.: There will be a variety of vendors, entertainment, and food in and around the Sunken Gardens, including Atascadero Tent City with a new diner run by Huckleberry’s-Atascadero, serving breakfast, lunch, and beignets all day!

10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m.: Sign-ups open for Colony Days Dog Races.

11:30 a.m. : Sign-ups open for Colony Days Dog Costume Contest

12 p.m.: Dog costume contest (any size dog-free)

12:30 p.m.: Wiener dog and small dog races (registration form)

1 p.m.: Colony Days Parade awards

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