2025 Parade and Festival
Saturday, April 19, 2025
10am - 5pm, Parade at noon
Please keep your furry friends at home ~ this event is extremely crowded and could be overwhelming for your animal.
*Note: the Spring Antique Faire will be held the following weekend on Sunday, April 27, 2025
Rain or Shine!
2024 BUTTER & EGG DAYS PARADE WINNERS
SWEEPSTAKES AWARD | |
Most Outstanding Use of Theme | ROSIE The Original Organic Chicken |
HELEN PUTNAM AWARD | |
Most Entertaining / Use of Historical Theme | Petaluma Historical Library & Museum |
JUDGES SPECIAL AWARD | |
Most Unique / Entertaining Entry | Arts Alive Petaluma |
GOLDEN HAMMER AWARD | |
Best Locally Built Non-Commercial Float | Petaluma City Schools |
HIGH SCHOOL BAND | |
1st Place Trophy | Casa Grande High School Marching Gauchos |
2nd Place Trophy | Petaluma High School Marching Band |
JR HIGH SCHOOL BAND | |
1st Place Trophy | Kenilworth Jr. High School Marching Band |
2nd Place Trophy | Petaluma Jr. High School Marching Band |
ELECTRIC VEHICLE / SELF PROPELLED | |
1st Place Trophy | City of Petaluma |
2nd Place Ribbon | Cool Petaluma |
PERFORMANCE GROUP | |
1st Place Trophy | Ballet Folklorico Netzahualcoyotl |
2nd Place Ribbon | Schafer's ATA Martial Arts |
BAND (NON-SCHOOL) | |
1st Place Trophy | Petaluma Hillbillies |
2nd Place Ribbon | Grocery Outlet |
FIRE ENGINE | |
1st Place Ribbon | Petaluma Fire Department |
2nd Place Ribbon | Gold Ridge Fire Department |
FLOAT - NON-COMMERCIAL | |
1st Place Trophy | Flat Broke Farm Animal Rescue |
2nd Place Ribbon | Petaluma Garden Club |
FLOAT - COMMERCIAL | |
1st Place Trophy | Heritage Salvage |
2nd Place Ribbon | Clover Sonoma |
ANTIQUE / CLASSIC CAR - COMMERCIAL | |
1st Place Ribbon | Straus Family Creamery |
2nd Place Ribbon | Ongaro & Sons |
ANTIQUE / CLASSIC CAR - NON-COMMERCIAL | |
1st Place Ribbon | Petaluma Historical Library & Museum |
2nd Place Ribbon | Good Egg 2024 - Faith Ross |
MOTORIZED VEHICLE | |
1st Place Trophy | Bug Deakin - Grand Marshall |
2nd Place Ribbon | Lagunitas Brewing Co. |
EQUESTRIAN | |
1st Place Trophy | Queens Lane Sanctuary |
2nd Place Ribbon | Petaluma Riding and Driving Drill Team |
EQUESTRIAN CLEAN-UP CREW | |
Best Pooper Scooper Trophy | Petaluma Riding and Driving Club Pooper Scooper |
VETERAN GROUP | |
1st Place Ribbon | Marine Corps League Santa Rosa |
2nd Place Ribbon | California Friends of Veterans |
MARCHING / WALKING GROUP - COMMERCIAL | |
1st Place Trophy | Strides Riding Academy |
2nd Place Ribbon | Sport Clips Haircut |
MARCHING / WALKING GROUP - NON-COMMERCIAL | |
1st Place Trophy | City of Petaluma Mayor, Council Members, and City Manager |
2nd Place Ribbon | Unitarian Universalists of Petaluma |
Join the 2024 Cow Chip & Donkey Apple Contest!
It’s all in good-natured fun at the “Cow Chip Throwing Contest” where local celebrities compete for bragging rights.
Come watch our Petaluma Police and Firefighters as they face off in the annual ‘battle of the badges.’ Cheer on Miss Sonoma County Princesses and City Council members as they try to hit the bullseye!
Adults and kids are welcome to participate! Check in at 9:50am ~ Cow Chip Table next to the Parade Judging Stand, in front of the Mystic Theater. Let the chips fall where they may ~ join in the fun of one of the highlights of Butter & Egg Days activities and vie for FAME and FORTUNE as the ‘Top Tosser’ for 2024!
Saturday, April 20 - 10am
In front of The Mystic Theater on Petaluma Blvd
When is the 2024 parade? Saturday, April 20 from 10a to 5p, with the parade from 12 Noon to 2pm.
What is the theme? "Greener Pastures": Sustaining Petaluma's Future!
How do I enter my child in the Cutest Little Chick Contest? This much-loved community contest takes place at the Butter & Egg Days Parade at 10:15 am in front of Copperfield's Books (140 Kentucky St). After the contest, participants are invited to ride in their float in the parade! The Cutest Little Chick Contest is put on by Petaluma Egg Farms. Signup information is available above.
What is the parade route? The parade begins at Walnut Park (4th & D Streets), proceeds North on Fourth Street to Kentucky Street, takes a right on Washington Street heading East, takes another right onto Petaluma Blvd North heading South, and disbands back at Walnut Park. View parade 2023 Map HERE.
When is the festival and where is it located? The festival begins at 10 am and ends at 5 pm. Music, family fun activities, a multitude of food vendors, beverage gardens, arts & crafts booths, samplings, and more will be available. The festival takes place on 4th Street, Western Avenue between Kentucky Street and Petaluma Blvd N, B Street, 2nd Street, and in the A Street Parking Lot.
Where are the awards announced and when? The Awards ceremony for all parade categories will take place at approximately 3 pm on the steps of the Petaluma Historical Library & Museum at 20 4th Street, located on the corner of B Street & 4th Street.
How many people attend the event? The event has approx 30,000 spectators, in addition to over 3,000 participants in the parade, and over 240 volunteers that help run it!
How long has this Parade been taking place? Since 1982 ~ it's currently in its 41st year! This event was "resurrected" from the original "Egg Days Parade" that celebrated our booming egg industry at the turn of the 20th Century. The last Egg Days Parade took place in 1926.
Why are the streets closed? Streets are closed to safely accommodate the parade, festival, and all the visitors!
What streets are closed and when? There are a number of street closures:
Petaluma Boulevard between Washington St. and “D” St., from 10:30 AM to 3 PM;
- Kentucky Street between “B” Street and Washington Street, from 7 AM to 3 PM;
- Second Street between “B” Street and “D” Street, from 5 AM to 6 PM,
- Fourth Street between “I” Street and “B” Street, from 10:30 AM to 2 PM;
- Fifth Street between “I” Street and “D” Street, from 7 AM to 2 PM;
- “A” Street Parking Lot from 5 AM to 6 PM;
- “B” Street between Second Street and Petaluma Boulevard from 5 AM to 6 PM;
- “B” Street between Petaluma Boulevard and Sixth Street, from 5 AM to 6 PM;
- “C” Street between Petaluma Boulevard and Second Street, from 7 AM to 3 PM;
- “C” Street between Petaluma Boulevard and Fifth Street, from 7 AM to 3 PM;
- “D” Street between First Street and Sixth Street, from 10:30 AM to 3 PM;
- Water St. between Washington St. and Petaluma Boulevard, from 7 AM to 6 PM;
- Washington St. between Keller St. and Petaluma Blvd., from 10:30 AM to 3 PM;
- Western Avenue between Petaluma Blvd. and Keller Street, from 5 AM to 6 PM;
- “E”, “F” and “H” Streets between Fourth St. and Fifth St., from 7 AM to 3 PM
How can I drive into that area? The parade area is closed to through traffic. Only residents may drive through.
Where can I park? There is plenty of parking in the City Parking Garage on First & C Street and the City Parking Garage on Keller and Western Ave. The city also waives the 2 hour parking restriction on that day for the surrounding non-closed streets. OR, avoid parking altogether and enjoy a free ride on Petaluma Transit's clean, safe, and Wi-Fi equipped buses to the Parade (information on transportation tab above).
Eastside Residents
- Live near S McDowell Blvd, Ely Blvd S, Sonoma Mtn Pkwy, Maria Drive, or E. Madison? Take Route 33 to ETC (Safeway) & transfer to Route 11 to Copeland Transit Mall and walk to the parade.
- Live near N. McDowell Blvd? Take Route 2 to ETC (Safeway) & stay on the bus, it will then go to Copeland Transit Mall (the bus becomes Route 11 once it departs ETC) and you can walk to the parade.
- Live near Lakeville Hwy, Frates Road, S. McDowell Blvd, or Caulfield? Take Route 24 to Copeland Transit Mall and walk to the parade.
Westside Residents
- Live near Petaluma Blvd N. take Route 1 to Copeland Transit Mall and walk to the parade.
What about Accessible Parking? Accessible parking is available on the corner of 2nd Street & C Street in the City parking structure. With closures, you’ll need to enter on 1st Street (off of D Street), make a left onto C Street, and then you can enter the parking garage on the left. The distance to the parade route on Petaluma Blvd. is one block. Accessible parking is also available in the City Parking Garage on Keller Street and Western Ave, and is a very short distance to the parade route. There is an accessible parking area behind the A Street Parking Lot off of 5th Street next to the old education building on the corner of B Street and 5th Street. Enter on 5th Street and to access the dedicated accessible parking spaces. These spaces are approximately one block to the parade route on 4th Street.
I’m in the parade. Where do I go? Everyone should check with whoever has organized their parade entry before the day of the event. The contact person for each unit involved in the parade is sent parade orders with when and where to show up the morning of the parade. All units line up in the surrounding neighborhoods and leave from Walnut Park at 4th and D Sts. to begin the parade route. Please don't drive through street closures, they are there for a reason. If you have a young child, please park and walk them to where they need to go. It's not safe for you or anyone else to drive through the street closures!
Who puts this on? The Petaluma Downtown Association and a volunteer committee plan this event. To contact, call 707.762.9348 or email Admin@PetalumaDowntown.com.
How is the parade funded? The Butter & Egg Days Parade is funded through business sponsorships, a grant from the County of Sonoma, vendor fees, entrant fees, and generous donations.
How can I help support the parade? We rely on the community’s support for this much-loved event. Ways to help include: signing up to be one of our 240 volunteers that help run the parade HERE; donating ~ any amount of donation is appreciated; becoming an Award Sponsor ($100 for one award, $250 for three, etc) which receives sponsor recognition on one or more of the awards that will be given to the winning entries.
Where is the judging stand? In front of McNear’s (23 Petaluma Blvd N).
How many people are in the parade? Over 3,000 people participate with around 135 parade entries and 8 divisions. This includes: floats, horses, marching bands, novelty units, and more.
Where can I see the parade? From the curb along the entire parade route.
Can I sit in the street? No. The street must be kept clear. There are horses and many large units. For safety reasons, all spectators must stay on the curb.
What if it rains? The event goes on, rain or shine.
What are the deadlines for participating in the parade? The earlybird deadline to enter the parade is March 4, regular deadline is March 11, late entry deadline is March 18.
How do I put together a parade unit or float? It’s fun to create decorations for your parade unit, whether you’re pushing shopping carts, walking your llamas, or having a float. To get some hints or tips, join us for our Float Workshop. Date and location TBD! Email Sarah@PetalumaDowntown.com to receive information.
What if I want a food booth, non-profit booth, or other vendor booth in the Festival? Simply complete the appropriate vendor forms online! Applications are in the links below.
How do I see the Booth locations? Booth locations will be approximate to the 2023 event. View 2023 event map HERE.
When is the deadline for reserving booth space? We accept applications for booths at Butter & Egg Days Festival until we run out of space.
The Good Egg Award is presented annually to a Petaluman whose effort over time has helped highlight, preserve and contribute to the positive promotion of the city of Petaluma. The goal of The Good Egg award program is to encourage all to become advocates of the unique qualities of Petaluma and to act as ambassadors for Petaluma’s heritage in our day to day lives. The Good Egg should be a role model for this.
The 2024 Good Egg Award honors Faith Ross, co-founder of Petaluma Blacks for Community Development. Ross has dedicated her time to with the Human Rights Commission, (PBCD), Petaluma Historical Library and Museum, and the Petaluma Christian Church. For four decades, the nonprofit has organized the town’s Black History Month program and has fostered awareness of the African American community.
The 2024 Butter & Egg Days Opening Ceremonies will take place on April 13 at the Petaluma Historical Library and Museum at 12 noon. Mayor Kevin McDonnell and other dignitaries will be present to read proclamations honoring the 2024 Good Egg, the parade’s Grand Marshall, and announce the opening of History Week.
This year’s Butter & Egg Days Parade Grand Marshal will be Michael “Bug” Deakin, of Heritage Salvage.
Bug Deakin is a purveyor of reclaimed building materials and the epitome of sustainable enthusiasm. Through reclamation and preservation, he and his team at Heritage Salvage source materials from around the world giving new life to the old.
The selection of Deakin is fitting, given the environmentally friendly nature of this year’s parade theme, “Greener Pastures: Sustaining Petaluma’s Future.” The theme celebrates Petaluma as a regional and national leader in climate action.
The 2024 Butter & Egg Days Opening Ceremonies will take place on April 13 at the Petaluma Historical Library and Museum at 12 noon. Mayor Kevin McDonnell and other dignitaries will be present to read proclamations honoring the 2024 Good Egg, the parade’s Grand Marshall, and announce the opening of History Week.
Thank you to the following businesses and organizations who have donated to our Parade:
- Dotto Construction Company
- Marine Corps League Santa Rosa Det. #686
- Miracle League North Bay
- Hall of the Above
- Lace House Laundry & Linen Supply
- Common Ground Society
- North Bay Animal Services