By Sara Beth Williams–
The annual pet-themed “Howl-o-ween” parade and harvest festival is set to return to Rusch Park this year on Saturday, Oct. 17.
The parade will begin at 9 a.m. at the intersection of Grand Oaks Boulevard and Rosswood Drive. The parade of floats from multiple local organizations and nonprofits will begin at Grand Oaks Elementary School, travel east down Grand Oaks Boulevard, turn south on Oak Forest Street, and then enter Rusch Community Park.
A harvest festival and vendor fair will kick off at Rusch Park at 10 a.m. following the parade. The festival will include food, craft fair vendors, live performances, demonstrations and a car show, along with other activities. The Citrus Heights Historical Society will also be hosting free tours of the Historic Rusch Home, located on the western end of Rusch Park. Tours will be held between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m.
The annual event is presented by the Citrus Heights Community Marching Band, a free, all-volunteer community band that performs at parades, festivals and other events throughout the region.
West bound Grand Oaks Boulevard will remain open for through-traffic. Those living on the parade route will be able to both park on the street and be able to exit in a vehicle if needed. Citrus Heights Police Department traffic control units will be helping with traffic control during the parade.
For years the annual parade preceding the harvest festival traveled down Auburn Boulevard from Twin Oaks Avenue to Rusch Park, until the major boulevard underwent revitalization from the summer of 2024 to the summer of 2026. During construction, the band changed its parade route to Grand Oaks Boulevard.
Now, with new medians installed along the main boulevard, the band has decided to retain the Grand Oaks Boulevard parade route though construction is complete on Auburn Boulevard.
Anyone interested in joining the parade or entering a pet in the costume contest can find more information on the event page at the community marching band’s website.
