Santa Rosa’s Rose Parade comes off smoothly amid Amgen Tour of California

Sandwiched between two professional bicycle races and corralled down a shorter than normal downtown course, the 122nd Luther Burbank Rose Parade still managed to wow the hometown crowd with displays of charm and tradition.

Beginning with Santa Rosa police motorcycle officers performing synchronized maneuvers and ending with street sweepers ensuring the course was free of debris, about 150 entries snaked their way through downtown streets swelled with parade and cycling fans.

As the parade passed the judging area, Bree Kalson, wearing a hat adorned with flowers, picked up her 4-year-old son, Leo, and so he could wave to Smokey the Bear.

Leo and his fellow Franklin Park Co-op pre-school classmate, Ruby Fleish, were just two of the many preschoolers who had earlier showed their school pride by marching in the parade, the theme of which was Re-Cycling Into The Future.

“They really enjoyed waving to all the people and throwing flower confetti,” Kalson said.

With the men’s race finishing on the same streets the parade took an hour earlier, there was a special emphasis on keeping the route as clean as possible this year. Horses were followed by particularly attentive pooper-scoopers. Parade participants were also instructed not to throw candy out of a concern that stray sweets might wreak havoc on the final moments of the men’s race.

As he handed out handfuls of candy to eager onlookers, Kim Mazarek said he was happy to comply.

“I didn’t want to be the one responsible for a bicyclist crashing into the side of Macy’s,” he said.

122nd Luther Burbank Rose Parade Special Awards

Best county high school entry: Rancho Cotate High School

Best overall equestrian entry: Mary Ann Reece

Best tribute to Luther Burbank: Luther Burbank Home & Gardens

Best use of color: Ballet Folklorico

Best use of recycled materials: Friedman’s Home Improvement

Best use of roses: Sonoma County Library

Best use of theme: Strawberry School

Best entry using local history: Early Day Gas Engine & Tractor Association

Best unit in parade: Century High School, Hillsboro, Ore.

Other awards

Antique or classic auto: Industrial Carting & Global

Band, elementary school: Rincon Valley Royals

Band, high school: Rancho Cotate High School

Band, middle school: Rincon Valley/Herbert Slater

Band, nonschool: Burning Ice

Band, out of county: Century High School, Hillsboro, Ore.

Color guard, adult: Santa Rosa Fire Department

Costume group, adult: Blind Scream Haunted House

Costume group, youth: Franklin Park Co-op

Cultural dance: Ballet Folklorico

Cultural music: Windsor Bloco

Heritage costume: National Organization for Women

Cultural, other: Pilipino-American Association in Sonoma County

Drill team, high school: Rincon Valley Christian

Drill team, middle school: Lawrence Cook

Drill team, elementary: Santa Rosa Charter School for the Arts

Drum major, middle school: Lawrence Cook

Drum major, high school: Century High School

Drum major, elementary: Rincon Valley Royals

Flag team, elementary: Santa Rosa Charter School for the Arts

Flag team, high school: Rancho Cotate High School

Flag team, middle school: Lawrence Cook

Float, commercial: Friedman’s Home Improvement

Float, nonprofit: Cesar Chavez Language Academy

Mace drum major, high school: Rancho Cotate

Mace drum major, middle school: Hillcrest Middle School

Military drum major, high school: Rincon Valley Christian

Military drum major, middle school: Rincon Valley/Herbert Slater

Military or veterans color guard: North Bay Co. Santa Rosa Army Recruit

Mounted Arabian costume: Mary Ann Reece

Mounted fancy dressed western: Sonoma County Fair rodeo queen Cecilia Curll

Mounted other: Good Things Come in Small Packages with KZST

Novelty/specialty, commercial: En Garde Fencing

Novelty/specialty, nonprofit: Anova

Pooper Scooper: Mary Ann Reece - Joyce Sumigawa

Unit ID, elementary: Rincon Valley Royals

Unit ID, high school: Rancho Cotate

Unit ID, middle school: Hillcrest Middle

Veterans group, other: Military Officers Association