Gridley Area Chamber of Commerce invites you to join them and our first responders at this year’s Red Suspenders Day! Pictured from left, in back, are Gridley Police Department Officer Lopez, CAL FIRE/Butte County/Gridley Fire Department Rob Kenyon, Gridley Police Department Officer Massey and CAL FIRE/Butte County/Gridley Fire Department Justin Sims. Front, from left, are Gridley Area Chamber of Commerce’s Lynne Spencer, Cathy Mills, Lisa Van De Hey and Joan Clarke.

GRIDLEY, CA (MPG) - The 63rd Annual Red Suspenders Day is right around the corner.

This beloved Gridley tradition began in 1961 as a fireman’s ball to raise funds for the local fire department. Over the years, it has evolved into a two-day celebration that incorporates multiple events to honor our firefighters, and this year, all first responders.

This year’s theme is “First on the Scene” and has expanded the celebration to include police, EMT’s, doctors, nurses and more in addition to CAL FIRE/Butte County Fire and area fire departments.

CAL FIRE/Butte County/Gridley Fire Department’s Rob Kenyon and Chamber President Lynne Spencer show off this year’s commemorative T-shirts with the 63rd annual Red Suspenders Day theme and the event’s namesake red suspenders, both available for sale.

Festivities begin Friday, May 17, with the Gridley Area Chamber of Commerce’s fundraiser, Unjustice Court, where community members can submit “warrants” for the arrest of their friends, family members or co-workers. In order to “get out of jail”, those arrested must pay “bail” imposed by the Unjustice Court Judge or serve their sentence out in “jail”, eating free pizza and drink. Warrants are still available at the chamber if you have a special someone in mind.

Later in the evening, the community is invited to come out and support our firemen at the Fireman’s Baseball Games held at Manuel Vierra Park. Members of CAL FIRE/Butte County will split into two teams, North County and South County, to play a rousing game of ball. A double header will be played with the Allstars from the North/South game taking on Sutter County Fire.

Saturday, May 18, will be filled with fun as the main event kicks off.

Beginning with the Little League Pancake Breakfast at 7 a.m., Saturday will include the historic bed races, Red Suspenders Day Parade, Car Show, Firemans games and family activities spread through the heart of Downtown Gridley surrounding Daddow Park.

New to the event this year is the First Responders Contest for children in grades kindergarten through 12th-grade. Children are encouraged to dress as their favorite first responder and build cardboard box first-responder vehicles for the chance at a $25 prize. After the contest, they are invited to walk in the parade with an accompanying adult. The contest will be held just before the parade. Contestants are asked to meet around 10 a.m. at the Gridley Post Office parking lot.

In honor of the late Dick Jones, his family has been asked to be this year’s Red Suspenders Day Grand Marshall. Jones spent years in service to the community of Gridley, was well known for his love of our local Little League and was a long-time Rotarian. The parade will begin on Vermont St. at 11 a.m.

Gridley Lions Group has also created a fun new event for all ages – the Marshmallow Olympics. No registration is required; just join the fun after the parade at 12:30 p.m. in Rotary Park. There will be races and even a marshmallow eating contest!

The band Missing Gray will provide live entertainment throughout the afternoon in the Daddow Park Gazebo. Don’t miss their unique musical styling and classic county era songs with a twist.

Whether it’s the rows of sparkling chrome and paint gleaming off the classics at the Red Suspenders Day car show, a hundred vendors with exciting treasures and treats or the wild blasts of water straying from the firehoses during the Fireman’s Games, there is something fun for everyone at Red Suspenders Days!