The Parade Must Go On!

The cars, bicycles and fire trucks will once again roll down Candleberry Road on the 4th of July holiday on Monday.

For more than 30 years, the Woodlands neighborhood has hosted a community Independence Day parade in its subdivision in eastern Walnut Creek.

This year, it was in danger of being canceled because the board members of the local swim club couldn't find enough volunteers to organize and staff the event.

"I'm not sure people are aware how close we came to canceling the whole thing," said Nancy Holian, president of the Cabana Club.

That's when the newly formed Diablo View Rotary Club stepped in.

Justin Wedel, a Rotary Club member and resident of the Woodlands, asked club board members if they could help.

The club responded with seven volunteers to help obtain a permit from City Hall, purchase insurance for the event, organize the food sales and help staff the parade route.

The Cabana Club also will provide volunteers and pay for the event.

The Diablo View Rotary is about two years old and has 30 members. Wedel said that despite its size the organization wants to make a big impact.

"If someone didn't step up, the parade would have been canceled," he said. "Our group is very active in the community. We wanted to help preserve this piece of Walnut Creek."

The parade begins at 11:30 a.m. Monday. Dozens of participants will walk, ride and drive from Valle Verde Elementary School on Peachwillow Lane, take a right on Candleberry Road, then a left on Citrus Avenue as they make their way to the Woodlands swim club with hundreds of people watching and cheering.

At the club, the pool's the attraction and more than 300 box lunches will be sold. Games and other activities also will be held.

"It's a huge tradition," said Holian. "In our busy world, it's a time where people stop what they're doing for a day and sit with their neighbors."