Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Community Events topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council asks staff to condense Cherry Days events and endorses 3100 parade route for safety
Summary
Council members discussed Cherry Days scheduling, fireworks and parade routing. Public safety recommended moving the main parade off Washington Boulevard; council signaled support for a 3100 route and asked staff to condense major events into a shorter timeframe and prepare a marketing plan.
City staff and the council discussed planning for the 2025 Cherry Days celebration, including parade routing, fireworks, event sequencing and volunteer staffing. City Attorney John Call and staff outlined recommended changes to limit the number of days for major events and to consolidate the parade, vendors and main activities to reduce staff and volunteer strain.
Public safety concerns: Police staff recommended that the main morning parade be held away from Washington Boulevard for safety and crowd control. John Call said blocking Washington is difficult because of multiple cross‑access points and the department’s limited officer resources; he noted a lieutenant’s comments about a vehicle that nearly entered the parade the prior year.
Council direction and rationale: Several council members said they preferred different routes — Council Member Dalpaz preferred Washington Boulevard — but by discussion the council indicated support for using the 3100 route, citing greater control and proximity to North Ogden Park. Council Member Pulver and Council Member Severing said the 3100 route was “cozy” and worked well in recent years. Council members also asked staff to explore whether a planned flyover request would be feasible over the 3100 route and to make every effort to secure fireworks on July 4 if possible.
Event sequencing and scope: Staff proposed concentrating the main parade, vendor booths and park activities on a single day (Friday, July 4) with some ancillary events on alternate dates (e.g., rodeo, car show, pickleball tournament and pool events). Council favored condensing the program rather than a week‑long spread and asked staff to return with a marketing plan to set public expectations, vendor scheduling and volunteer assignments.
Why it matters: Cherry Days is a major community festival that draws residents and visitors. The council’s routing and scheduling direction affects traffic management, public safety deployment, vendor revenue opportunities and volunteer needs.
Next steps - Staff to confirm whether a flyover can be routed over the 3100 parade path and consult the fire marshal on fireworks staging and launch location. - Staff to produce a short marketing/communications plan clarifying parade route, vendor hours and volunteer roles for distribution to citizens and event stakeholders.
