Photos: Annual Fourth of July parades roll in Alameda and San Jose as heat wave continues

The sunny streets along San Jose’s Rose Garden neighborhood were lined with spectators as they braved the heat for the annual Rose, White and Blue 4th of July Parade.

The parade kicked off at Lincoln High School, running down Naglee Avenue and turning onto The Alameda, and there was also a car cruise hosted by the Lowrider Unity Council.

The accompanying festival has returned after a brief hiatus in 2023. Performers included Santa Clara Performance and Elite Dance, Ensamble Folclórico Colibri, Salseros Parceros, La Cumbiamba Columbiana, Pro Wrestling Revolution, GoGo Skateboarding Lessons, Movimiento Cultural Anahuac, Casita de las Artes, Dulce Tricolor Venezolano, Valverde Dance, Grupo Folklorico Yolotli Guerrense and many more.

The first Carnival of Roses was held in 1896, went on for four days and featured 23-year-old Lillian Rea as the first Rose Queen.

Alameda’s July Fourth Parade claims to be the longest in the nation with a route that spans 3.3 miles, attracting more than 170 entries and 2,500 participants. The event draws over 60,000 spectators from the region and entries include equestrians, dance troops, floats, antique cars, community groups and marching bands.

The Alameda Theater and Cineplex float moves along Grand Avenue as a spectator looks on during the annual Fourth of July Parade in Alameda, Calif., on Thursday, July 4, 2024. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)