True Colors to Show in Holiday Parades

In the old days (not necessarily good, just old), Memorial Day parades were a blast--for the youngsters, not only a harbinger of school-free days but a chance to see the mayor in that old black topper and maybe even to march with the Cub Scouts or Brownies; for the adults, a semi-solemn occasion to honor the war dead, then to tap a beer keg, fire up the steaks and spin ever-bolder stories of battles grown glorious with age.

In the ‘80s, the day seems to commemorate little more than a three-day weekend. Nevertheless, parades still abound, if you know where to ferret them out:

One of the more traditional parades will be held Sunday in Brentwood, starting at 11 a.m. and proceeding down San Vicente Boulevard from 26th Street to Bringham Avenue, just across from the Wadsworth Veterans Administration Hospital. Actress Hope Lange, honorary mayor, and TV newsman Paul Moyer, grand marshal, will lead the parade. In keeping with the theme “A Salute to Youth,” a dozen high school and youth bands and marching units will participate, while in keeping with the day, veterans from Wadsworth also will march, along with military color guards and Explorer Scouts.

There won’t be any motorized vehicles in the annual Mule Days Parade in Inyo County today, but there’ll be plenty of animals and marchers. Music, dancing, arts and crafts and barbecues follow at the Tri-County Fairgrounds, Main Street and Wye Road, Bishop (45 miles south of Mammoth) off U.S. 395. Information: (619) 873-8405.

The Garden Grove Strawberry Festival Parade begins today at 10:30 a.m. at 9th and Chapman Avenue and ends at the Village Green. Grand Marshal Josh Taylor, Gloria Loring, Lyle Alzado and Zsa Zsa Gabor will join floats, bands and equestrian units in the parade. A three-day festival follows. Call (714) 638-0981.

Western Days in Valley Center continue today with a parade at 10 a.m. down Valley Center Road. Music, booths, contests and carnival games and barbecue dinner follow. Valley Center is 6 miles northeast of Escondido.

A Memorial Day Parade with actress Herta Ware as grand marshal will roll down Topanga Boulevard from the Post Office to the Community House Monday at 11 a.m. A parade organizer says the parade is “less organized and older than the Doo Dah Parade . . . people come out of the woodwork for this one.” The parade is part of the Topanga Days Country Fair.