Children play in a fountain of water created by fire trucks at the annual Nicolaus Labor Day parade last year. This event is scheduled for Monday, Sept. 2, in Nicolaus starting with a pancake breakfast at 7am and a parade at 10am. Photo by Chris Pedigo

EAST NICOLAUS, CA (MPG) - As you come down off the freeway and make your way down into Nicolaus on Labor Day, you can feel the excitement building for this small-town celebration.

For 33 years, the Labor Day Parade has brought the community together to celebrate, but more importantly, reminisce about the fabric of small-town America.

This is a snapshot of America that we all love to enjoy and cherish.

Whether this is your first Labor Day parade or your 33rd, it’s always such an experience.

The parade features local first responders, local school children, community groups, and entertainers such as Mexican horsemen and women.

Children scramble for candy during the annual Nicolaus Labor Day parade last year. This event is scheduled for Monday, Sept. 2, in Nicolaus starting with a pancake breakfast at 7am and a parade at 10am. Photo by Chris Pedigo

It begins with the fire trucks, and at their sound, you can see the children start to smile and stand up.

As the trucks pass down the street toward the reviewing stand, all the kids jump out to get sprayed with the water from the fire engines. It’s akin to watching magic - as the spray and resulting smiles measure how much this tradition means to the community.

While the floats pass through town and down the route, decorated school entries further illustrate the community’s hometown spirit. Each year the local kindergarten classes battle for who will have the best float, nothing like a little friendly competition! Browns Elementary School was this year's first-place winner, followed by Marcum-Illinois Union Elementary in second, and Pleasant Grove School for third.

Horses and riders are pictured in the annual Nicolaus Labor Day parade last year. This event is scheduled for Monday, Sept. 2, in Nicolaus starting with a pancake breakfast at 7am and a parade at 10am. Photo by Chris Pedigo

Truly, you can see the traditions passed down through generations of locals.  Where else can you see grandmother’s and grandfather’s scramble to grab candy with their grandchildren just like they did when they were young?

If you missed this perfect snapshot of Americana, the Nicolaus Labor Day Parade plans to return again next year.

Stay tuned for information on more community events.