2021 Aptos 4th of July Parade
The Worlds Shortest Parade - Aptos's annual Fourth of July Parade.
The World's Shortest Parade takes place every year on the 4th of July in Aptos. The parade travels for approximately half a mile. It starts near the Rancho Del Mar Shopping Center and ends near the Bayview Hotel with a party at Aptos Village County Park afterwards.
The parade has its roots in a battle over a proposed development in Aptos. In 1961 a proposed change to local zoning laws would have made it possible for a cement plant to be built in the center of Aptos Village. Lucile Aldrich and other residents formed the Aptos Ladies Tuesday Evening Society to prevent the zoning change, and when they were successful a celebration was held on Memorial Day. The success of this event inspired the 4th of July celebration and parade that year.
The original course of the parade ran from the base of Trout Gulch Road to the business where Britannia Arms is today. The Aptos Ladies Tuesday Evening Society organized the event until 1992 when the duties were taken over by the Aptos Chamber of Commerce.
The World's Shortest Parade takes place every year on the 4th of July in Aptos. The parade travels for approximately half a mile. It starts near the Rancho Del Mar Shopping Center and ends near the Bayview Hotel with a party at Aptos Village County Park afterwards.
The parade has its roots in a battle over a proposed development in Aptos. In 1961 a proposed change to local zoning laws would have made it possible for a cement plant to be built in the center of Aptos Village. Lucile Aldrich and other residents formed the Aptos Ladies Tuesday Evening Society to prevent the zoning change, and when they were successful a celebration was held on Memorial Day. The success of this event inspired the 4th of July celebration and parade that year.
The original course of the parade ran from the base of Trout Gulch Road to the business where Britannia Arms is today. The Aptos Ladies Tuesday Evening Society organized the event until 1992 when the duties were taken over by the Aptos Chamber of Commerce.