I hope the parade this year is a little more exciting than it's been in the past. The marching bands from the local schools are wonderful but the rest of the parade is a big snooze fest. Who wants to watch a bunch of uncostumed toddlers and their parents walking down the street. Boring.

And another thing... In the past when I attended the parade, I arrived early and staked out my spot on the curb for a good view. Just before the parade started, when the marching bands were making their way to where I was standing, a parent with a toddler on his shoulder walked in front of me and completely blocked my view. Happens every time. If you want a good view, arrive early. Don't step in front of people with your toddler sitting on your shoulder, blocking the view of those behind you. Why are people so thoughtless?

@Oscar: This is a local children's parade. It's not Disneyland. Those uncostumed toddlers you see in the parade, affiliated with various local preschools, are so excited to be part of a parade. This is as much for the kids IN the parade as it is for those watching.

Personally, I love watching all those happy shining faces going by.

It's a lot of expense and effort to close off University Ave. just for some uncostumed toddlers to walk down the street. I attended the parade in the 70s when I was a child and did not walk in the parade. I don't remember that the parade featured uncostumed toddlers and their parents. There was a pet parade portion where children walked their pets down the street, which was cute. It doesn't seem to be part of the parade today. Of course with the "every kid gets a trophy" mentality that exists today, it makes sense that toddlers want to parade down the middle of the street without possessing any kind of talent but to walk on two feet. So thrilling to watch.

It would be cool if the parade partnered with Concours deElegance and featured beautiful vintage cars and marching bands. That would be something worth watching. Maybe the kiddies could ride in the cars.

Each parade should be a day to remember positively!
My father and grandmother were in the parade and great grandma watched. I’m 70 years old. I was in the parade for many years then have watched it for many more years and now helped the next generations in it. As kids, in the 1950’s, we were excited to figure out a fun and creative idea to do In the parade. We made costumes using what we had at home. We dressed up our pets. Dressed up our bikes. One year I was a butterfly and my older sister dressed up in safari clothes with a butterfly net. Another year, my younger sister was dressed as an adorable cat. We pulled her in our wagon where she sat inside a cute circus looking cage my dad made. My friend and I dressed as zoo keepers. We made floats other years. We went together as a brownie troop another. I agree that it has become boring !!! Be creative ! Put some effort into making this special day a fond memory for your kids! Take time as a family to create some cute costume or float or do anything that they will remember! Then, take photos of them in the parade and put on your frig! No excuses.

5 Generations and still here: My mother claimed to be the first Queen of the May. In the 1940s the parade was a highlight followed by a cone at Peninsula Creamery, then on to the Maypole dance at the Community Center; we still have the films. I don't remember being in the parade - that was a long time ago, but I hope Mother kept up our family tradition. I also hope the Palo Alto Historian can confirm Mother's story! This year my granddaughter is a judge in the May Fete, on with tradition.