64th Annual Mother Goose Parade in El Cajon

‘Tis the season, and with it comes baked goods, jaunty parties, and gifts! The kick-off to end-of-the-year holiday festivities is the esteemed Mother Goose Parade on Sunday, November 21st.

The inaugural parade in 1947 mustered an audience of 25,000 with a meager three floats, including the El Cajon Rotary Club’s float where Santa’s costume got stuck on a display tree leaving him suspended for a majority of the parade. Luckily, the parade-goers thought it was all planned and loved the humorous situation. 

The annual Mother Goose Parade, now in its 64th year of existence, is the largest parade in San Diego County and captivates thousands of spectators to view the event on its trademarked Sunday before Thanksgiving. Being the largest parade of its type west of the Mississippi, hundreds of diverse participants from various cities line the streets of El Cajon every year to share the excitement of the holiday spirit and to celebrate children everywhere. 

In this year’s parade, numerous school bands from across the United States will fill the streets with the sound of holiday cheer. Bozo and his friends will boast their brightest red noses as they clown around with onlookers. Equestrians of all shapes and sizes will gracefully strut their stuff while galloping down the aisles. After meeting a series of academic prerequisites and written responses, young high school women will compete for the crown in the Scholarship / Leadership / Goodwill Ambassador Program for Young Women of San Diego County, better known as the Queen’s Contest. And of course, it would not be a true parade without the addition of vibrant and colorful floats shimmying their way down the spirited streets. 

The Mothers Goose Parade Association (MGPA) primarily promotes higher education by means of scholarships and workshops, and secondarily benefits the public and encourages community development with a unique parade. The MGPA conducts youth programs that advance youth development in the areas of arts and culture, education and personal growth, health and wellness, and community enhancement. 

The 64th annual Mother Goose Parade takes place on Sunday, November 21st starting at 10am. For more information about the Mother Goose Parade in San Diego, email the MGPA at info@mothergooseparade.org or call 619.444.8712.

Discover more San Diego entertainment ideas in our San Diego events calendar.