The Almond Blossom Parade is Saturday.

It all begins at 1 p.m.

The route for the Almond Blossom Parade, according to the Ripon Chamber of Commerce, will start at the corner of Main Street and Stockton Avenue along historic downtown, proceeding down West Main Street and turning left onto Vera Avenue.

Featured will be the Almond Blossom queen and her court along with the grand marshal – the Ripon Garden Club.

From there, the parade continues south on Vera while turning left onto Fourth Street.

At the end of that is the judges’ station in front of the Ripon Community Center, 334 Fourth St.

“The roadways will start closing down at approximately 11:45 a.m., with the parade starting at 1 o’clock. For safety reasons, once the roadways are closed no traffic will be allowed on the parade route,” the Chamber posted on social media.

The Ripon Police Department is suggesting that paradegoers arrive at their location early or take advantage of one of the through ways.

Included are:

• The intersections of West Main Street / Acacia Avenue and West Fourth Street /South Acacia Avenue. Both intersections will remain open until the parade starts for north and southbound traffic.
• The intersection of Second Street at Vera Avenue will remain open for east and westbound traffic until the parade starts.

The Ripon Chamber of Commerce thanked those in advance for their assistance in keeping the parade a fun and safe event during this 60th annual event.

The schedule of events include:

·         Today – Festival vendor booths (Mistlin Sports Park), 3-8 p.m.; ABF carnival (Mistlin Sports Park), 4-10 p.m.; Community Stage live music “Teen Night” featuring bands from GK Music School, 5-8 p.m.; Quarterback Club Golf Tournament at La Contenta Golf Club, Valley Springs.

·         Saturday – Ripon Grange Pancake Breakfast, Ripon Grange Hall, 6-10 a.m.; Almond Blossom Festival Fun Run, featuring 8K or 1-mile races, Mavis Stouffer Park (shirt, medal and goodie bag for participants), 8:30 a.m. (one mile), 9 a.m. (8K); Immanuel CRC Bake Sale (9 a.m.-2 p.m.) and Lunch (11 a.m.-2 p.m.); Diaper Derby, Ripon High North Gym, 10 a.m.; Festival vendor booths (Mistlin Sports Park), 10 a.m.-8 p.m.; ABF carnival (Mistlin Sports Park), noon-10 p.m.; Community Stage Live Music (Mistlin Sports Park), noon-8 p.m.; Quarterback Club Brats and Drinks, Ripon Community Center, 1 p.m.-7 p.m.

·         Sunday – Festival vendor booths (Mistlin Sports Park), 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; ABF carnival (Mistlin Sports Park), noon-5 p.m.

Information: www.riponchamber.org