BUENA PARK : Parade, Games Mark 34th Silverado Days

The 34th annual Silverado Days celebration begins today, complete with a parade, carnival, wacky competitions and appearances by mascot Silverado Sam. The four-day festival will start at 3 p.m. at Peak Park, 7225 El Dorado Drive, and run through Sunday.

Dozens of arts and crafts exhibitors will be on hand along with the usual collection of food booths and carnival rides.

On Saturday, Silverado Sam will lead the Grand Parade, which will start at 10 a.m. and include local high school bands, floats, clowns and horses. The parade route begins at the corner of La Palma Avenue and Valley View Street and proceeds east along La Palma back to Peak Park.

Throughout the weekend, residents are invited to take part in contests including Hog Calling, Pie in the Face, and Canine Beauty. The Kiwanis Club will also provide its annual Pancake Breakfast. For $2.50, residents can eat all the pancakes they want from 8 a.m. to noon on Sunday.

The annual community fair, now in its 34th year, was originally known as Home Town Days. In 1957, the name Silverado Days was adopted to coincide with a planned Western-style renovation of downtown Buena Park. It has since grown into a festival that attracts tens of thousands of people. Silverado Days is sponsored by the Noon Lions Club, which donates proceeds to community groups.