Unveiling the 2023 London Bridge Days Parade: 3 Must-Know Highlights

This Saturday marks the 53rd annual London Bridge Days Parade, bringing a festive atmosphere to Main Street with numerous patriotic-themed floats.

The event commemorates Lake Havasu City’s history, specifically the dedication of the London Bridge after its acquisition by founder Robert P. McCulloch. An array of local nonprofits, elected officials, and school organizations will join the festivities, showcasing community spirit.

Economic forecasts for this year’s parade indicate an estimated impact of $17,000, based on funding applications gathered by Go Lake Havasu.

This year’s theme, “Celebrating American Patriots,” encourages float participants to creatively interpret the concept of patriotism. One standout entry is from the Havasu Stitchers club, featuring a pontoon boat adorned with around 20 patriotic quilts crafted by its members.

Barbara Withers, the club’s president, emphasized the theme’s relevance in an election year. “It’s important to evoke that spirit of patriotism as people engage in the election process,” she stated.

Local students will also take part, including student council members, the marching band, and baton twirler Jayden Mendez, who is preparing for an international competition in Italy.

In addition, Mohave Community College will host a float featuring veterans to honor their service. Vanessa Martinez, the cheerleading coach, is seeking veterans to join in by holding flags or banners. Interested individuals can contact her at vmartinezcastrejon@mohave.edu.

The London Bridge Rotarians will contribute to the event by selling commemorative coins, with all proceeds benefiting Kinder Swim.

For those wishing to attend, the parade runs from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., starting at Acoma Boulevard and concluding at Capri Boulevard. Main Street will be closed from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. for the parade activities.

Later that same day, Parks and Recreation’s Fall Fun Fair will take place from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Rotary Community Park Ballfields, offering games, food trucks, and festive treats.

Weather conditions look promising, with sunny skies and a high of 95 degrees Saturday, cooling to around 68 degrees at night. Sunday will see partly sunny weather with a high near 90, but a significant temperature drop is forecasted as next week approaches.