For the small town of Aptos to throw a parade every year attended by thousands, it truly takes a village. The Aptos 4th of July Parade is something the townspeople look forward to and celebrate every July 4. Yes, organizing the parade takes a village — Aptos Village!
World’s Shortest Parade Has Come a Long Way!
By John Hibble
In 1961, much to the horror
of local citizens, a zoning change was proposed that would have allowed a cement batching plant to be built in the center of Aptos Village. Locals rose up against the proposal. Concerned women such as Lucille Aldrich, Anne Isaacs, Babe Toney and others formed the “Aptos Ladies Tuesday Evening Society” and organized themselves to defeat the zoning change.
Their efforts were successful, and after their victory, The event was so popular that a parade and potluck were planned to follow on the fourth of July.
Everyone turned out in old-fashioned clothes and the Monterey Bay Antique Car Club brought 18 vintage cars. The “Sun Tan Special,” the train that once passed through Aptos Village while transporting visitors from the San Francisco peninsula to Santa Cruz stopped for the parade.
“It was a happy coincidence that the parade coincided with the train passing through,” recalled Lucille Aldrich.
Later that year, when the Southern Pacific Railroad tried to close the crossing in front of the Bayview Hotel, the Aptos Ladies’ Tuesday Evening Society again took action. Inviting the press, they dressed in Victorian clothes and laid themselves down upon the railroad tracks.
Eventually, the court decided the Southern Pacific could not close off the right-of-way, and the Ladies were again victorious. This second victory provided the impetus for continuing the parade.
Originally, the parade route was from the Driftwood Gas Station at Trout Gulch Road to the Pop Inn restaurant (Kauboi) and back to the Bayview Hotel.
It lasted less than ten minutes. Soon, food booths were set up to help raise money for Mar Vista School and ears of corn were sold. Children’s games and contests were added including a cow-milking contest.
The pancake breakfast was added in 1987 and is a cooperative venture between the Aptos Chamber of Commerce and the volunteers.
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Meet 2016 Parade Grand Marshal, René Schlaepfer
This years Grand Marshall for the 2016 Aptos “world’s shortest” parade in Aptos is René Schlaepfer. René has been active in improving the lives of others and our community by being involved with charitable organizations and non-profits such as Second Harvest Food Bank.
René is the senior pastor of Twin Lakes Church in Aptos, California (www.tlc.org). He served as a pastor in San Diego, South Lake Tahoe, and since 1993 at Twin Lakes Church. René and Laurie Schlaepfer have three children: Jonathan, Elisabeth, and David. He has authored five books including: Thrill Ride, Grace Immersion, God Is, and Jesus Journey.
René is in demand as a speaker at conferences throughout America, Mexico and Africa. He leads mission trips throughout the world and makes his ministry
accessible via podcasts and video sermons. He has been active with Second Harvest Food Bank for several years and as co-chair for two. René made national news when he challenged his congregation of 3,600 to donate 1 million pounds of food by Thanksgiving to Second Harvest, and they were successful.
Born in San Jose, California to Swiss immigrant parents, René grew up with dual citizenship and lived briefly in Switzerland before his family returned to San Jose.
He worked for several years in broadcasting as an on-air personality for contemporary music radio stations. René earned a BA in Radio/TV/Film from San Jose State and an MA Theology from Western Seminary.
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Aptos 4th of July Schedule of Events
Pancake Breakfast • 7 – 10 a.m.
Located at the Aptos burger. across from Safeway. Hosted by the Aptos Chamber of Commerce. Sponsored by, burger.Aptos, Little Owl Italian Kitchen, Kiss Catering, Severino’s at Best Western Seacliff Inn, Pacific Coffee Company & Safeway.
World’s Shortest Parade • 10 am – 12 pm
Begins at Wells Fargo and ends at the Bay View Hotel. Hosted by the Aptos Chamber of Commerce. Sponsored by Allen Property Group, Palo Alto Medical Foundation, Earth Works, Green Waste Recovery, Wells Fargo, Coldwell Banker, Aptos Feed & Times Publishing Group.
Party in the Park! • 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Family Fun Day! Something for the whole family: kids games, face painting, pony rides, archery, zorbs, food trucks, caterers, and special guest artist EXTRA LARGE! Sponsored by New Leaf Community Markets.