In 1936, downtown Palm Springs was home to the Desert Circus Parade – which, according to Palm Springs Life, was as awesome as it sounds
:
To give the parade that old-time circus feel, a whole world of strange laugh-provoking creatures, all built on a gigantic scale, were going to march down the main street of Palm Springs. Provided by the Gilmore Circus parade, which last appeared in the Hollywood Christmas Day Parade, they will add to the Mardi Gras atmosphere of the local event.
…
To pull the 13 rubber inflated grotesque and amusing animals and 15 rubber clown heads down the parade route, a call went out to local high school and grammar school boys. The only stipulation to participate in the event was that the boys must be over 5-foot-2 in height. Brand new clown costumes were provided to the boys and they received free passes to the Desert Circus.
Now that is the kind of parade you do not want to miss!
The Desert Circus Parade would later become the Festival of Lights Parade – which is basically just a couple radio station vans, a tractor, and a trash truck all with some lights thrown on them…and, sadly, not a rubber inflated grotesque and amusing animal to be found.
*sigh*
