| | | | |  | | Sponsors Keep the Parade 'Legendary' | | | by Petaluma Downtown on
| As the 2013 Butter & Egg Days Parade spotlights the Legends of Petaluma, we would like to spotlight and thank our new and returning legendary sponsors! Once again, in economically challenging times, these businesses have dug deep to make sure that Petaluma’s beloved tradition steps off on April 27. Keeping the parade going has become increasingly challenging as a result of a lack of funds. We don’t receive any funding from the city so we rely on the generosity of the below sponsors for support of this precious community event.
Premier Sponsors Organic Valley – Major Sponsor Friedman’s Home Improvement – Entry Workshop Bank of Marin – Presenting Parade Sponsor Clover Stornetta Farms – Presenting Sponsor Kids’ Parade Special Division Sponsors Straus Family Creamery Merlone Geier Partners The 101 Casino Wells Fargo Bank Whole Foods Market Division Sponsors Redwood Credit Union Kaiser Permanente Hansel Auto Group Basin Street Properties Sponsor Club Leaders Exchange Bank Petaluma Creamery Kala Brand Music Co. Sponsor Club Members Comcast/Xfinity Amy’s Kitchen Lace House Linen Media Sponsors The Argus Courier KZST 100 Froggy 92.9 NBC Opening Ceremonies Sponsor – Ghilotti Construction Company Beer Sponsor – Lagunitas Brewing Company Wine Sponsor – Eschelon Vineyards Parade Cleanup, Keeping Downtown Clean & Beautiful Sponsor – Petaluma Refuse & Recycling Official Printer Sponsor – Petaluma Minuteman Press Hospitality Volunteer Sponsor – CamelBak Cow Chip Contest Sponsor – Petaluma Poultry Trophy Sponsor – Cruisin’the Boulevard, Inc. Volunteer Meeting Sponsor – G&G Market Volunteer Thank You Sponsor – Buffalo Billards Major Friends of the Parade Button Sponsor – Petaluma Raley’s Nob Hill Friends of the Parade Button Sellers Petaluma Raley’s Nob Hill Petaluma Market Aqus Café at Foundry Wharf Lombardi’s BBQ
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| | | | | | | Help us kick of Butter & Egg Days at the Opening Ceremonies April 20 | | | by Petaluma Downtown on
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The Butter & Egg Days Opening Ceremonies will kick off the 2013 festivities from noon to 1 p.m. on Saturday, April 20 at The Petaluma Historical Library and Museum and is generously sponsored by Ghilotti Construction.
The celebration is FREE!
The Petaluma Downtown Association produces the Opening Ceremonies, as well as the parade and festival, and invites you to applaud and thank Petaluma's newest Good Egg winners, John and Joetta Furrer, as well as cheer on the newest Grand Marshal recipients, The Petalumans of Yesteryears. All of this year's award winners have made amazing contributions to the Petaluma community and deserve to be honored in relation to the 2013 theme, Legends of Petaluma.
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| | | | | | | A Friends of the Parade Button Gets You Discounts! | | | by Petaluma Downtown on
|  Purchasing a button is a great way to show your support for the longtime Petaluma tradition of Butter & Egg Days. The Petaluma Downtown Association used to receive TOT funding to assist in the expenses of producing the parade, but that ended a about three years ago. Also, the city no longer donates operational assistance, so funding the parade has become increasingly challenging. By purchasing a $5 Friends of the Parade Button at Petaluma Visitors Center, Lombardi's BBQ, Petaluma Market, Aqus Cafe or Raley's, you are helping to keep this tradition alive.
But wait, there's more!
In case you needed more convincing to sport your button, these Petaluma businesses have graciously stepped up to help ensure this parade and festival steps off on April 27. If you wear your Friends of the Parade button into any of these participating businesses, you will receive a discount or special offer!
To become a participating button discount location, please email admin@petalumadowntown.com or call the PDA office at 707-762-9348! The listing on our blog and site are FREE!
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| | | | | | | Last Call for Butter & Egg Days Parade Entries deadline March 11th | | | by Petaluma Downtown on
| |  Last call to get your applications in for The 2013 Butter & Egg Days Parade on April 27th. This year's parade will honor Petaluma's businesses, characters and folklore legends for their contributions to Petaluma’s vitality and fame, with the theme “Legends of Petaluma - Past & Present” when it marches through the Historic Downtown on April 27, 2013.
This 32nd annual parade will ask entrants to incorporate their idea of who or what represents a Petaluma legend theme to them into their float design. “The Legend theme gives businesses, organizations and individuals a lot of options for showing off their creativity in their design. The cost of putting on the parade is over $100,000, we are still offering sponsorship opportunities which is essential in protecting this precious community event keep marching ” say McCusker, she asks that anyone interested in sponsorship and donation opportunities contact the PDA at 762-9348. Parade applications with all deadlines are available at www.petalumadowntown.com. Or email butterandegg@petalumadowntown.com to request that an application be emailed to you as soon as they are available. The early bird deal is past and our regular deadline is Monday, March 11 at 8 a.m. Entries will be accepted after that on a space-available basis only and will require a late fee. No applications will be accepted after 8 a.m on Monday unless space is available at a late fee price. Please call (707) 762 9348 for more details. Set your calendar for the this year's Butter & Egg Days Button release fundraiser at Lagunitas on Monday March 25th. A fun evening of great food, music by The Grain and Randy & The Special Agents, fabulous beer (all included in the ticket price of $20 pre sale or $25 at the gate). We will also be launching this year's collectable button. A great way to support your hometown parade!
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| | | | | | | Butter & Egg Days are Coming! | | | by Petaluma Downtown on
| Our 2013 Butter & Egg Days Parade will be coming to Downtown for it's 32nd year on April 27th! And we're already gearing up for another great event. Our theme this year will be "Legends of Petaluma" and we'll be celebrating the characters and business legends that have made our town great.
If you're planning on being in the parade or festival, we've got our parade applications, kids parade applications and vendor applications available on the Butter & Egg Days webpage. Deadlines for the parade will be March 1st for the earlybird pricing and March 11th by 8:00am for regular pricing. After that, you still have a chance of entering, but it will be the late entry pricing. Also, for the float builders out there, we'll once again have our float building workshop, scheduled for February 6th at the Visitor's Center. The entry form to be a part of that is also available on our website.
In addition, we've got nomination forms for this year's Good Egg, a person in the community you deem to be egg-ceptionally good at preserving and promoting our Petaluma heritage. Make sure to get those in by February 27th to have your nominee considered.
And make sure to save the date now for our 2013 Opening Ceremonies at the Petaluma Historic Museum. It will be taking place at noon on Saturday April 20th. We'll announce the official beginning of Butter & Egg Days, our Grand Marshal and our Good Egg. Hope to see you there!
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| | | | | | | Downtown is Open Late for the Holidays | | | by Petaluma Downtown on
| | PETALUMA DOWNTOWN MERCHANTS OFFER LOCAL HOLIDAY CHEER WITH EXTENDED HOURS AND FUN Enticements to Shop Local on Friday, December 21 include carolers, cookies, cider, and sales
 The Petaluma Downtown merchants will extend their shopping hours to accommodate the season on Friday, December 21. More than 25 merchants on Kentucky and Western Streets and Petaluma Boulevard will be open until 9 pm. Local caroling groups from the Pacific Empire Chorus will be performing on the sidewalks, spreading holiday cheer. Shoppers can enjoy cookies, hot spiced cider, and a roasted chestnuts cart run by local green vendor Weed Farms.
"Petaluma has such a wonderful downtown and it will be extra special on Friday, December 21 with the holiday decorations, carolers, and treats. It's a true small town experience and one we hope the community will share with us." said Marie McCusker, Petaluma Downtown Merchants Association Executive Director. "When we first started planning this, all of the merchants were excited and jumped right in with their ideas. We have stores and restaurants participating in the fun. It's really going to be a special treat for our local folks." said Grace Bogart, Bookseller at Copperfield's Books.
Some merchants plan to be open late on Thursday and Saturday as well; for specific times during the weekend, check with individual merchants.
Many merchants have extended hours throughout the Holiday Season, visit our website for a listing.
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| | | | | | by Petaluma Downtown on
| Here comes the Holiday Open House and it's From Petaluma, With Love! Join downtown merchants for a day of  shopping, festivities and fun for the whole family on Saturday Dec. 8 from 11am to 5pm. Merchants will host open houses all over downtown, offering refreshments, cider, sweets, shopping deals, raffles, prizes, activities and more.
In Putnam Plaza, The Petaluma Downtown Association will sponsor free face painting and balloon art for kids. And Lala's Creamery will once again sponsor FREE horse & carriage rides for kids! Adults ride for only $5. Enjoy strolling entertainment while you peruse downtown including carolers, music and more!
The Open House was originally scheduled for Dec. 1st, but due to the torrential downpour we've been having, we opted to postpone the event until the 8th. However, many of the merchants will still be having holiday parties and fun on the 1st, so make sure to check out our website and see what's going on.
The Theatre District will kick off the Fabulous Women's Festival of Trees on Dec. 1st with their Tree Lighting Ceremony at 6pm. Peruse beautifully decorated trees and bid on your favorite to take home, all proceeds will go to local charities. The event will continue on the 7th & 8th from 6-9pm in Theatre Square.
The City of Lights Driving tour is here! Download the map here and take a tour of all of Petaluma's beautifully decorated homes & businesses. Then vote for your favorite decorated home & business on the website.
Also make sure not to miss Hospice of Petaluma's Light up a Life tree lighting ceremony on December 7th in Center Park. Ceremony starts at 7pm.
And  on the 8th, the Petaluma Yacht Club's Holiday Lighted Boat Parade will return! Watch a beautifully decorated flotilla of lighted boats parade into the Petaluma River Turning Basin. Parade starts around 6:30pm and lingers in the turning basin for most of the evening.
Throughout the Holiday Season, the Lan Mart merchants are hosting Santa Claus every Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Stop by with your list and take a picture! Visit our calendar for exact times.
Enjoy the Fun and Happy Holidays!
From Petaluma, With Love
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If it's almost summertime, then it means we’re gearing up for the 12th Art & Garden Festival! Since this is now an award-winning event, we're anticipating more participants and attendees than ever before. Art & Garden was voted Best Outdoor Art Event, Sonoma County, in the Bohemian and we couldn't be more thankful for all the talented vendors and participants who have contributed to making this festival such a success! 
We're very excited about the upcoming Spring Antique Faire and the 32nd Butter & Egg Days Parade and Festival taking place this upcoming weekend! We are pleased to announce that the Spring Antique Faire has been hugely popular this year and we are celebrating a completely sold out show! Every merchant space available will be occupied with vendors selling antiques and vintage collectables on Kentucky Street, Fourth Street and the A Street Parking Lot! Attendance for shoppers and collectors is FREE and there will be a selection of food carts available as well on Fourth Street. 
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