Julian Parade Committee Taps Woody Barnes for Grand Marshal
By Bobbi Zane

Woody Barnes, longtime Julian resident and descendant of one of the community's pioneer families, was selected by the Fourth of July Parade committee to serve as grand marshal of this year's event.

Barnes, a rancher and owner of Manzanita Ranch in Wynola, will greet the nearly 10,000 people who line the Main Street parade route in what many consider the Greatest Little Town Parade in America.

His selection reaffirms the theme for the event, "Celebrating Julian's Heritage," adopted by the committee. Heritage refers to the people and events that through the years influenced how Julian grew to be the remarkable town it is today. Most go far beyond the gold rush that brought people to the area in the late 1800s.

Ranchers like Barnes' family moved into the Julian area shortly after the gold discovery and established a stable population, many of whose descendants live in Julian today.

The parade will recognize members of the community's original families who have been invited to ride down Main Street in the 80-year-old Mack stage that was restored by members of the Julian Historical Society.

The Independence Day event has traditionally honored veterans. This year will be no exception. Locals who are veterans in wars going back to the 1940s have been invited to serves as honorary dignitaries.

The pre-parade aircraft flyover, one of the highlights of the event every year, is right on schedule for 2007. Look for three or more vintage war birds to scream across the sky above the parade route just prior to the march.

No parade would be complete without marching bands, equestrian groups, kids with pet livestock, antique cars, fire engines and drill teams. You can wave to the newly crowned Miss Julian and her court, the town doctor and the Merchant of the Year.

This year the parade will step off at noon on Wednesday, July 4. But plan to get there early to stake out a front row-seat to enjoy the pre-parade activities starting at 10 a.m.

The parade is the centerpiece of a collection of activities that celebrate Julian's unique heritage. Foremost is a weeklong quilt show in Town Hall presented by the Julian Woman's Club. The show features antique and new quilts. The town's American Legion always holds a barbecue following the parade. And there's entertainment, music and open shops throughout the event.

The parade is an annual presentation of the Julian Fourth of July Parade committee, organized by Mike Menghini.