Thousands expected at Auburn's veterans parade

This Saturday, for its 44th year, Auburn has the honor of hosting the official regional Veterans Day parade. More than 200 entries, including marching bands, drill teams, honor guards, military units, veterans groups, military vehicles and community groups, pay tribute to veterans at the mile-long parade. Paradegoers will also see a military flyover.

"The reviewing stand in front of City Hall is a great place to watch the parade," says city of Auburn special-events coordinator Kristy Pachciarz. "We have more than 30 bands this year, most of them stop and perform there, and the parade emcee is there. We're expecting 25,000 to 30,000 spectators; people start setting up chairs and blankets at 6 a.m., with choice spots available until an hour or so before parade time."

A Veterans Remembrance Ceremony with wreath placement, salute and lighting of the flame at Veterans Memorial Park precedes the parade.

A showcase of military equipment and vehicles and information about the military and veterans is available from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. in downtown Auburn. Auburn High School hosts a band Field Show Competition after the parade, with proceeds to benefit the school band program.

Other events in Auburn include the American Legion Breakfast, Lions Club Luncheon (registration form available online at auburnwa.gov), and a veterans-only open house at the Auburn Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW).

The details

Parade: 11 a.m. Saturday, west on Main Street from E Street Southeast to B Street Northwest, Auburn. Review stand, 25 W. Main St., Auburn.

Veterans Remembrance Ceremony: 9:45-10:15 a.m. Saturday, Veterans Memorial Park, 411 E St. N.E., Auburn.

Marching-band competition: 1-9:30 p.m. Saturday, Auburn Memorial Field, 800 Fourth St. N.E., Auburn; $14/adults, $10/ages 6-18 and ages 62 and older; ages 5 and younger free.

Getting there: Highway 18 between the Auburn-Enumclaw exit and Southeast 304th exits closed for construction Saturday; access Auburn via Highway 167 or other alternate route. Free parking available in the Auburn Transit Station parking garage, 110 Second St. S.W., Auburn.

More information: 253-931-3043 or auburnwa.gov.

Other events

Veterans Day is Wednesday. Local observances include:

Veterans Day Ceremony, Museum of Flight: Performance by the Boeing Employees' Concert Band, noon Wednesday; U.S. veterans and current U.S. military personnel admitted to the museum free of charge, 9404 E. Marginal Way S., Seattle, 206-764-5720 or www.museumofflight.org.

Seattle Veterans Museum: Displays to honor local military veterans, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Wednesday, west side of Benaroya Hall on Second Avenue between Union and University streets, Seattle; www.seattleveteransmuseum.org.

Museum of History & Industry: Free admission for veterans and active military, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Wednesday, 2700 24th Ave. E., Seattle, 206-324-1126 or www.seattlehistory.org.