News: Parade route will be REVERSED for 2019! The parade will start at Lilac Road and head north. The route will then turn left onto Cole Grade Road, ending at the Valley Center Elementary School entrance where the Western Days Festival will be located.
Facebook event: https://www.facebook.com/events/345889869554065/
Parade entry forms available here: CLICK HERE
Parade Lineup – coming soon!
Sit next to your favorite announcer
This year’s Western Days Parade will have six announcer spots along the parade route, with some announcers doubling up. Some of the announcers are veteran announcers, while others are doing it for the first time. Whatever the reason, announcers add to the fun of the parade.
So pick your favorite announcer, grab a lawn chair, and get ready for some fun. There will be some additional announcers, unnamed at this point, who will be assisting and learning how to do the job, and giving the Western Days Committee an experienced pool from which to draw in future times. See page 24 for locations.
JAMIE ZELLER – STATION 1
Jamie Zeller was a 25 year resident of Valley Center attending kindergarten through 8th grade in the amazing VC school system. Jamie is currently a resident of Escondido, is a Code Enforcement Officer and is the On the Menu food writer for the Valley Roadrunner and Escondido Tmes-Advocate. She is currently attending California Coast University studying Criminal Justice and will obtain her Bachelor’s Degree in 2020. Jamie is looking forward to all of the parade entries, especially the VC Middle School marching band, as she used to play the clarinet and march in the Western Days parade as a youth.
JOANN FOXX – STATION 2
Valley Center resident, JoAnn Foxx, is an experienced horsewoman and wild horse advocate. A former international fashion buyer and owner of an equestrian sports marketing company, she is presently the CEO of FoxxMD Evolutionary Skin Care, her line of natural, organic skin products.
CRAIG ADAMS – STATION 3
Craig Adams is a long time VC resident of nearly 30 years. He served on the VC planning group for 11 years, and retired last year as an English teacher at VC and Oak Glen high schools. He currently teaches part time at the Rincon Reservation Ed Center and is a member of the VC Kiwanis club. Craig Adams will be at Canyon Road and Valley Center Road.
OLIVER SMITH – STATION 3
Oliver Smith is an electrical engineer who moved to Valley Center with his wife Janice in 2001. He is a former Director of the Valley Center Fire Protection District and a new Director of the Valley Center Municipal Water District. He has also been Chair of the Valley Center Community Planning Group for the last 11 years. His wife is the owner of Inspirations Quilt Shop on Valley Center Rd.
CHARLES CARATTI – STATION 4
Multiple award-winning author Charles Caratti has written literally thousands of newspaper articles, magazine stories, and columns for many publications including the San Diego Union Tribune, The Californian, The Reader, The North County Times, and Parent Magazine. He writes the popular Southpaw opinion column for this newspaper. He is also a noted television producer/director with several documentaries currently airing and in production on Cox Cable and elsewhere.
Charles will be announcing his 15th parade. He says his spot is the place you want to be for the most fun, the most craziness, all the great country hits, and the best overall look at the parade. This year, Charles’ wife, Marsi, will share announcing duties.
Charles says, “We love announcing the parade because it is a fantastic way to catch up with all the friends Marsi and I have made here in the past 25 years.”
EVERETT DELANO – STATION 5
Everett DeLano is a partner in the Escondido law firm of DeLano & DeLano, where he specializes in land use and environmental law, including property disputes and planning and zoning matters. He regularly appears before agencies and in court. Mr. DeLano received his undergraduate degree from the University of San Diego in 1989 and his law degree from the University of Southern California in 1992. He has lived in Valley Center for 12 years with his wife and children, and has served as a VCYS soccer coach. In his free time, he enjoys hiking, skiing, and mountain biking; he also races a Porsche 924S.
DAVID ROSS – STATION 6
David Ross, longtime editor of the Valley Roadrunner newspaper, has been doing the announcing for the parade for so long that he has lost count. He will be having a grand old time—and hopes you will have a grand old time by joining him. Join David at Cole Grade and VC Road, which is just a stone’s throw from the newspaper office—but please resist the temptation. Unless you want to hand (not throw) him a Stone Arrogant Bastard ale. Ross will be at Valley Center Road & Cole Grade (next to the pancake breakfast.)