The Parada Del Sol has been a Valley tradition since 1953, celebrating Scottsdale’s historic western roots.
Scottsdale Community College students, faculty and athletes waved banners and tossed candy at the 70th annual edition of Parada del Sol parade Saturday morning among a crowd of almost 30,000 attendees.
Members of the SCC men’s baseball, women’s soccer, equine science program, student leadership, faculty, and of course, Artie, walked down Scottsdale Road as one of almost 150 parade entrees this year.
“Last year when we walked, there were so many of the spectators that would yell out the class they graduated in, or they’d yell out, ‘I’m an artichoke!’ So it’s just an exciting time for us to show our connection to the community,” said SCC President Dr. Eric Leshinskie.
This year marks an especially large turnout, with an estimated four times the number of SCC students and staff attending the parade than the previous year.
The increase in student involvement can be tied to the strong value held by SCC faculty to stay connected with the community.
“I think it’s really important that we’re bigger than just a soccer program on campus,” said Thomas Hurdle, women’s soccer head coach. “It’s a lot more than just a team on the field. It’s a group of young women that are learning about themselves, about something that’s bigger than themselves.”
The SCC bunch was mixed in between floats representing local businesses, schools, and bands, all meant to celebrate not only the current town, but also its history.
The parade was immediately followed by the “Trail’s End Festival”, complete with block parties, live music, and family friendly entertainment.
