Festivities continued after the parade in Sunken Gardens

ATASCADERO — On Saturday, Oct. 1, Atascadero residents and spectators from all over the county lined El Camino Real to watch and cheer on the 48th Colony Days Parade. The parade started at 10 a.m., with Colony Days festivities carrying on until 3 p.m. in and around Sunken Gardens.

This year’s parade celebrated the “Roaring 20s” and was led by the San Luis Obispo County’s Sheriff Posse carrying the Color Guard. Following up right behind them was this year’s Colony Days’ Royalty: Dan Phillips as King, Ramona Phillips as Queen, and Ann Little as the parade’s Grand Marshal, all looking swell in a vintage convertible as they sailed down El Camino Real.

Not only was the parade full of Atascadero favorites like the school district’s marching bands, the fire department, and even our own Atascadero News, but it also featured floats and participants from all over the North County, including the Paso Robles High School marching band and color guard and Miss California Mid-State Fair and her court.

“I think that we have an amazing group of people with really great talent. It’s amazing what gets done with the smaller group that we have,” said Colony Days Committee Member Dianna Greenaway of the Committee.

The entirety of Colony Days, from the parade to Tent City, is put on by the Colony Days Committee, which is a nonprofit full of local volunteers striving to help the community remember Atascadero’s roots while also reveling in what our city has to offer today.

Once the parade was over, the fun continued in Sunken Gardens with everyone’s favorite yearly event of the dog costume contest and Wiener and small dog races. The pet-centric events were sponsored by Heilman Dog Park, SLO County 5th District Supervisor Debbie Arnold, and Lemos Feed & Pet Supply. Tent City also returned, though it was smaller than in years past, and the Atascadero Community Band performed starting at 2 p.m. 

“They picked music that would have been right for the era, for that 1914, 1916 era, which is really super exciting. It’s just really great,” added Greenaway.

Colony Days will be back again next year on the first Saturday of October, so mark your calendars for Oct. 7, 2023.