LOS BANOS, CA (October 30, 2025) — The Los Banos Veterans Day Parade will take place this Saturday, November 1, 2025, beginning at 11:00 a.m. in downtown Los Banos. Organized by the Los Banos American Legion Post 166 and VFW Post 2487, this year’s theme, “Salute to the Space Force,” continues the long-standing local tradition of honoring all who have served while spotlighting a different branch of the military each year.
The parade is always held on the first Saturday of November, a date selected to ensure strong community participation and avoid conflicts with other regional events. Participant check-in opens at 9:00 a.m. at “I” Street and 7th Street under the designated canopy, with staging along “K” Street between 6th and 7th. The procession steps off at 11:00 a.m. and concludes at the Veterans Memorial Hall at 615 E Street, where announcers will introduce each entry along the route.
Before the parade, the Women’s Auxiliary will host a pancake breakfast from 7:00 to 9:30 a.m. at Veterans Memorial Hall ($12 per person, to-go available). Following the parade, participants are invited to enjoy a complimentary hot-dog lunch. Restrooms will also be available at Westside Union School. Parade rules prohibit handing out candy or jumping on and off floats, and equestrian entries must provide their own cleanup plans. Spectators are encouraged to arrive early due to street closures along the route.
Parade Chairperson Patricia McCoy addressed a common question about why the event is held earlier in the month:
“People often wonder why the Los Banos Veterans Parade is always held on the first Saturday of November,” McCoy said. “One reason is to avoid conflicts with much larger parades happening on Veterans Day. Another is because our Veterans are the same ones out at 5:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. on Veterans Day placing and retrieving more than 950 flags throughout the community for the Flag Program fundraiser.”
McCoy added that another factor involves the participation of local high school bands:
“Los Banos has four school bands that proudly march in our parade. If it were held on the second Saturday of November, they wouldn’t be able to participate because that’s the same day as the Central Valley Band Review in Merced.”
As McCoy emphasized, “There’s been a lot of thought behind the parade’s date. This event is put on by Veterans, for Veterans.”
For additional updates, including parade routes and staging details, visit the organizers’ official website at Los Banos Veterans.
The parade route is pictured below
