AVONDALE, Arizona - The cities of Avondale and Goodyear, in partnership with Estrella Mountain Community College (EMCC), will host a joint parade and festival through both cities on Saturday, February 16, 2013. Themed "International Celebration", this year's parade Grand Marshalls will be a delegation of 150 immigrants, representing many countries, who will be taking the Oath of Allegiance at the festival following the parade.
Tale of Two Cities Parade & Festival - International Celebration
Saturday, February 16, 2013
Parade: 10:00 a.m. at Litchfield & Thomas Roads
Festival: 12:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. at Estrella Mountain Community College, 3000 North Dysart Road
The parade begins at 10:00 a.m. at Litchfield and Thomas Roads, traveling east down Thomas to Dysart Road, ending at the festival grounds of EMCC where the family-friendly festival continues the celebration. Admission is free and includes live music and entertainment, a kids' zone, food and vendor booths, international vehicle exhibit, cultural-related displays, and the official naturalization ceremony.
The parade will promote various cultures from around the globe, with music and performances from a variety of artists to complement the experience. The delegation of immigrants - soon to be United States Citizens - have been invited to lead the parade procession, adding to the pageantry of an event that helps to bring the community together to celebrate an array of world cultures. The scheduled formal naturalization ceremony, coordinated by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), will take place at the festival.
With approximately 80 parade entries, the procession will also include decorated floats, marching bands from local schools and even a bag pipe band, cultural dance groups including Chinese Lion Dancers, and Ballet Folklorico, local celebrities and state political figures, celebrated mascots such as Goodyear Ballpark Mascot Zizzy, Arizona Cardinals Big Red, Ronald McDonald, foreign makes of antique and specialty vehicles from Italy, Germany, England and Japan, community and school clubs, scouts, equestrians, and more.
The festival, held on the campus of EMCC, will offer a diverse assortment of activities and attractions with a global flair, such as world arts and crafts, concessionaires serving authentic food and international cuisines, plus a dynamic line-up of entertainment, including martial arts, world drumming performance, Ballet Folklorico, and Native American hoop dancers.
"The Tale of Two Cities event is more than just an event for the community," said Stacey Lindsay, event coordinator. "It is a venue for the American dream of 150 immigrants -- it's the beginning of their journey as a U.S. citizen for them."
This event is a collaborative between the cities of Avondale, Goodyear and Estrella Mountain Community College, with contributing sponsors Avondale Auto Mall, Cox Communications, Hilton Garden Inn & Homewood Suites, Saint Gobain Solar, and West Valley Pediatrics & Orthodontists.
For further information, visit http://www.avondale.org/events , http://www.avondaleevents.gbump.com, http://goodyearaz.gov/parade, or call Avondale Recreation at 623-333-2400.
PARADE ROAD CLOSURES & PARKING
The parade route begins on Litchfield Road at the Goodyear Community Park to Thomas Road and will then travel east on Thomas to Dysart Road, de-staging at Dysart Commons retail center.
* Litchfield Road Northbound lanes only will be closed 7:00 a.m. - Noon between Thomas and Indian School Road. Detours will be set up for northbound traffic at Thomas Road.
* Thomas Road between Litchfield and Dysart will be closed 7:00 a.m. - Noon. Detours will be set up for west and east bound traffic at Litchfield Road and Santa Fe Trail.
* Dysart Road will be closed to local traffic only between Thomas Road and Sage Lane starting at 9:00 a.m.- Noon. Detours will be set up for north bound traffic at Encanto. Detours for south bound traffic at Osborn.
* Access to Estrella Mountain Community College and the surrounding neighborhoods of Fulton Estates, Dysart Ranch, Sage Creek, Las Palmeras West, and Corte Sierra will be available throughout the duration of the event.
* All major intersections in these areas will be closed and existing traffic will be directed off of the parade route. All non-local traffic wishing to travel north or south should remain on Indian School Road or McDowell Road.
Spectator parking will be available at St. Thomas Aquinas Church (enter from 137th Ave.), Palm Valley Elementary (enter from 135th Ave.) and Estrella Mountain Community College (enter from the North, off Dysart Rd).