Colin Hay is this year’s Grand Marshal for the 46th annual Topanga Days Memorial Day parade, that takes place on Memorial Day, Monday, May 27.
Hay’s voice and visage are familiar to millions as front man, songwriter, and vocalist of the pop band, Men at Work (“Down Under”, “Overkill”, “Who Can it Be Now?”), which have proven the timeless appeal of his songs. For the past ten years Hay has been re-introducing himself to a new generation of fans through the frequent use of his music for hit TV shows such as Scrubs and Army Wives, the hit soundtrack to the film, Garden State, and the recently released Morning Glory.
One of the most anticipated Southern California parades, the Topanga Days Parade thrills parade fans lined up along the route with its quirky creativity manifested by an array of original floats touting local businesses and non-profits, stilt walkers, horses and their riders, Martial Arts students demonstrating their skills, and many unexpected delights.
Parade participants assemble early at Pine Tree Circle and the parade begins at 8:30 a.m. along Topanga Canyon Boulevard for 2.5 miles, ending at the Community Center Fairgrounds entrance.
The festival continues with a Flag-raising ceremony, where Boy Scouts, Cub Scouts, and veterans present the colors and welcome members of the military. The National Anthem will be performed by The Brothers Gage. Members of the armed forces and their families, past and present, who show military I.D., receive free entrance to the festival on Memorial Day.
The Boulevard will be closed to traffic from Pine Tree Circle to Mulholland Highway from 7:30-10:30 a.m.
Topanga Days remains a quintessential Southern California experience, part music festival and part hometown fair that evolved from a local strawberry fair to an event that attracts world-class talent with its homegrown bohemian charm.
The three-day, family-friendly event includes musical acts on two stages, old-school contests and games, including The Egg Toss, Three-Legged Race, Baby Derby, Bubble Gum Blowing, and Pie Eating, as well as booths featuring local artisan and craft vendors galore for shoppers. For young kids, don’t forget the ever-popular Fun Zone, with bounce houses, face painting, and human whack-a-mole.
Fill up on food fare ranging from BBQ and pizza, to Mexican and kabobs, with old-fashioned kettle corn, funnel cakes, ice cream, and smoothies to satisfy a raging sweet tooth, and a refreshing cold beer, cider, wine, or the TCC’s popular sangria bar for those with proper ID.
MUSIC HEADLINERS
Topanga Days welcomes headline artists performing on the Main Stage: ORGONE, Saturday, May 25; Fantastic Negrito on May 26; and Lukas Nelson & Promise Of The Real (POTR), on Monday, May 27, that closes the festival.
Over the course of three days, more than 28 acts will perform on two stages. Attendees are encouraged to arrive early, stay hydrated, put on sun block, and dance, sit, and relax while enjoying the warm hospitality and beautiful weather of the Santa Monica Mountains.
Tickets range in prices from $15 for a single day member ticket to $80 for a three-day non-member pass. On Monday, May 27, all members of the military and their families get in free with proper military I.D.
One hundred percent of the proceeds of the festival benefit the TCC. n
For more information and discounted pre-sale tickets: www.topangadays.com.
About the Topanga Community Center (TCC). Founded in 1949, the Topanga Community Center, a not-for-profit 501(c)(3), is dedicated to the improvement and preservation of the Topanga Community House and its grounds. The TCC is one of the last remaining privately funded public community spaces left in California, not supported by tax dollars but owned and managed by a volunteer board for the Topanga community. The annual Topanga Days Festival is the main fundraiser of the year and critical to TCC’s success. In 2017, the TCC Board voted to change the name from the Topanga Community Club to the Topanga Community Center to better reflect the organization’s mission to serve the community with low-cost programs for children, teens, and seniors.
For more information go to topangacommunityclub.com