Memorial Day celebration approaches

Old-fashioned family fun is just around the corner as the annual Felton Remembers Memorial Day Parade and Covered Bridge Festival returns to town Saturday, May 26.
The annual celebration, now in its 24th year, will see more than 50 U.S. military veterans walk in the parade.
KPIG’s Ralph Enibodi will emcee the event hosted by the Felton Business Association that will include the Ghost Mountain Riders motorcycle club, jazz bands from the area, local equestrians, fire trucks, Girl Scouts, cheerleaders and more.
The highlight, however, is the veterans from all walks of life who will march and ride in the parade. A U.S. Marine Corps honor guard from the Monterey Defense Language Institute will participate, too.
Mike Burns, owner of Farmers Insurance and a San Lorenzo Valley resident since 1969 will be this year’s grand marshal. Burns, who has run the insurance agency for more than 30 years and also owns The Office Connection in Felton and Sincerely Yours in Boulder Creek, is a Vietnam War veteran.
He served in the U.S. Army as a pathfinder working with special forces, as an Army Airborne team leader and as a detachment sergeant.
Burns has three children and five grandchildren and enjoys skiing and music.
The parade begins at 10 a.m. and will travel from Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park through downtown Felton. It will disperse at Covered Bridge Park on Graham Hill Road, where the annual Covered Bridge Festival begins at 11a.m.
Live music — provided by Surface, a reggae-rock group; The Road Hogs, a rhythm and blues band; and Bullfrog, which favors blues and rock ’n’ roll — will accompany the cold beer and local wines served at the beer garden. The Felton Fathers will serve pulled pork, sausage and pizza; Felton Fire volunteers will fire up the barbecue; and Hawaiian ice and nachos will also be served.
Vendors will sell tie-dye, airbrushed tattoos, jewelry, hats and T-shirts, among many other offerings, and a children’s area will include a jump house and a sand area.
Because of limited parking at the park, organizers ask that folks follow the parade on foot to the festival or leave their cars at Felton Bible Church, 5999 Graham Hill Road.