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Parade organizers report 142 entries, $42,000 in school stipends and 5,000 attendees
Summary
City event staff reported the May 9 Hel Dorado Days parade drew about 142 entries and an estimated 5,000 attendees; the commission funded $42,000 in school stipends to support band and float participation.
Marja Bridal, special events administrator, and Jasmine Freeman, cultural affairs manager, presented the final report on the Hel Dorado Days parade held May 9 on the downtown route. Bridal said the parade staging and outreach, led by a Geary Company campaign (billboards, radio, TV and social), helped drive attendance and participation.
"With a 142 entries, we had a lot of photos to slip in there," Bridal said, summarizing the event media and noting the parade is the highest number of entries since reviving El Dorado in 2005. Freeman said the commission’s funding allowed organizers to provide $1,000 to each marching band and $1,500 to each float entry, totaling $42,000 distributed to schools to offset travel and equipment costs. Staff estimated total attendance at about 5,000 and flagged continued efforts to convert parade visitors into longer downtown stays and repeat visitors.
Commissioners asked about outreach to valley residents who live outside downtown and whether the parade could be carried live on Channel 2; staff said they are pursuing multi‑pronged marketing and exploring live-broadcast options for 2027.
