Island holds 13th parade

This year’s Balboa Island Parade will mark the event’s 13th anniversary ? a lucky or unlucky number, depending on your point of view. And the march on Sunday will be celebratory in another way. This year’s parade, which covers two blocks outside the Balboa Island fire station, commemorates the 100th birthday of Newport Beach.

A dozen and one years ago, the Balboa community held its first parade to honor the opening of the fire station. Since then, the event has become a staple every first Sunday in June, as classic cars, rock bands and other attractions line a short two-and-a-half-block stretch.

“It all started with the completion of the fire station 13 years ago,” said Peggy Marotta, the publicity chairwoman for the event. “Each year we have it, and it’s just got everything imaginable.”

The parade is scheduled to begin Sunday at 11 a.m., starting on Bayside Drive, crossing the Balboa Island Bridge, and continuing down Marine Avenue to the fire station. Among the expected participants are musicians, dancers, U.S. Marines, even golden retrievers ? anything, according to the organizers, that isn’t political in theme.

The grand marshals for this year’s event will be the Keystone Kops, a group of four locals ? including former Mayor Steve Bromberg ? who dress as the famous silent clowns. Despite their comical appearance, parade chairwoman Kathy Peterson said, the marshals would be helping to direct traffic and oversee the event.

“They don’t really do comedy,” she explained. “They just interact with people.”

This year, as in the past, a panel of judges will hand out a number of awards during the parade. The categories include best music group, best float, best golf cart and a slew of awards for the motor vehicles: street rod, sedan, convertible, coupe, vintage car, antique car, and an overall best of show.

The bridge will be closed to regular traffic on Sunday from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.dpt.01-parade-CPhotoInfo2C1RHBLR20060601hfu0cckfMARK C. DUSTIN / DAILY PILOT(LA)Leading 2004’s Balboa Island Parade festivities was a classic fire engine driven by the Fallbrook Fire Department.