Five Alarm Fun!
May 11, 2023 12:00AM ● By Story and photo by Seti Long
CALFIRE/Butte Unit/Gridley Fire Department and the Gridley Area Chamber of Commerce is ready for fun this coming Red Suspenders Day! Here Chamber members sit in CALFIRE/Butte Units Swift Water Rescue Team's boat while Firemen stand guard. Pictured from left to right: Rob Kenyon, Perry Stair, Lynne Spencer, Teresa Fuentes, John Hartman, Lisa Van De Hey, James Roberts, Jesse Carrasco (back) and Nick Del Chiaro.
Gridley Prepares for Red Suspenders Days
GRIDLEY, CA (MPG) - Since 1961, the town of Gridley has been celebrating their local firefighters.
Flash forward 62 years, and the Gridley Area Chamber of Commerce is still honoring the tradition with the annual Red Suspenders Day (RSD) event, parade, and car show. This year’s theme is Five Alarm Fun and local CALFIRE/Gridley Fire Department, CALFIRE/Butte Unit, and other area departments will be saluted for their tireless dedication to safeguarding our communities.
Festivities begin Friday, May 19th with the Unjustice Court, where unsuspecting people are arrested when friends, family, or co-workers submit a warrant to the Chamber. The fugitives are picked up by firefighters and transported to “jail” where they enjoy a free meal of pizza and drink until someone posts their bail. Bail monies fund the Chamber, its future events, and activities. Have someone in mind? There’s still time to fill out a warrant!
That evening, beginning at 5:30 p.m., Gridley’s Manuel Vierra Park will feel the heat when the county’s firefighters blaze around the diamond during the annual firemen’s softball game. A second game between CALFIRE/Butte County and CALFIRE/Sutter County will double the excitement!
Saturday, a full day of activities kicks off at 7:00 a.m. in downtown Gridley with a pancake breakfast at Railroad Park, car, truck, and motorcycle show at 8:00 a.m. on Kentucky St., retro bed races at 9:30 a.m. on Virginia street, followed by the parade featuring a variety of fire trucks, fire apparatus, floats and more at 11:00 a.m. Live music will entertain guests from 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. and kids games in Rotary Park will run from 8:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. Not to be missed are the exciting firemen’s games at 1:00 pm at Rotary Park! The day will wrap with the Gridley Museum Tri-Tip Dinner on Kentucky Street from 4:00 – 7:00 p.m.
This year the Chamber has confirmed that 90 vendors will be spread throughout Quota, Rotary and Daddow Parks located between Washington and Virginia Streets, including a food court near the 800 block of Hazel Street. A variety of food vendors will be in attendance. Patrons can expect apple fries, Mexican foods, hot dogs, baked potatoes with assorted toppings, Asian food, BBQ meats, Indian food, churros, handmade ice cream, kettle corn, and more!
Don’t miss the Five Alarm Fun this year at the 2023 Red Suspenders Day!
