Arrrr matey, spring is here Arrrr matey, spring is here (April 23, 2004)

Mountain View's annual parade to hit Castro Street this Saturday

By Grace Rauh

Pirates will be taking over the city this Saturday, but there is no need for alarm.

The Blue Beards, scallywags and wooden-legged sea folk are all part of Mountain View's 26th annual spring parade, set to sail down Castro Street on April 24.

Roughly 5,000 people are expected to gather and gawk at the motley crew swaggering through downtown before heading to Pioneer Park for barbecue, games and long walks off short planks. It's Mountain View's official welcome to spring -- pirate style.

The usual suspects will be on hand: Girl and Boy Scouts, city council members, Little League teams, the Santa Clara Vanguard band, automotive clubs and Deer Hollow Farm with their baby lambs, ducks and other animals in tow. The farm is noted for entering the parade's lone float each year.

About 60 groups are signed up to strut and hunt for sunken treasures -- or at least look like that's what they're doing. "Some of the groups have upwards of 300" members, said Michele Petersen, the chair of the parade.

Critters by the Bay, a group of adults dressed in wacky animal costumes, is expected to be a big hit especially amongst younger parade-goers, Petersen said. The Critters entered the parade a few years ago and wowed so many people with their lively costumes and antics that the city now pays them to attend the event as entertainment.

"They're a fun group. Kids love them and that is our focus," Petersen said. "I know one of the gentleman really is Sharkey during the hockey season."

The parade themes of previous years -- "Take Me Out to the Ball Game," "A Day at the Beach" and "Put On a Happy Face" -- are quite different from this year's pirate-fest, but Petersen said organizers were inspired by the Disney film "Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl," released last year.

The parade will start at noon on Castro Street at the Villa Street intersection on April 24. It is expected to last between 45 minutes to one hour and post-parade activities at Pioneer Park will run until 3 p.m. Austin's will serve barbecue at the park and there will be an Astro Jump, carnival games and crafts projects for kids. The parade will take place rain or shine. For more information, call 903-6331.

E-mail Grace Rauh at grauh@mv-voice.com

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