Thousands of people gathered in Folsom on Tuesday for an annual event honoring the millions of Americans who have served in the U.S. military.
The 25th annual Wayne Spence Veterans Day parade rolled through Folsom on the federally recognized holiday — Veterans Day — to the cheers of families and veterans alike.
Participants in array of floats, classic cars, horses, color guards, marching bands and community groups tossed candies and handed out American flags during the parade.
According to organizers, more than 60 floats or groups were registered for the parade totaling some 2,000 participants.
The parade route started near the intersection of East Bidwell Street and Montrose Drive and ended at the Folsom Community Center on Natoma Street, causing some temporary road closures.
The city’s annual parade was renamed after Jess Wayne Spence in 2009 after Spence’s death. The Navy veteran, who served in World War II and in the Korean conflict, single-handedly started the parade in 2000 when he walked by himself down Natoma Street distributing flags, according to previous Bee reporting.
The Wayne Spence Veterans Day parade was just one of many events honoring Veterans Day in the capital region on Tuesday. Marysville, West Sacramento, Elk Grove and Auburn also held parades.
From left, Declan Marsh, Lincoln Marsh, Lucas Chesnik and Maxwell Marsh watch a Veterans Day parade in Folsom on Tuesday, Nov. 11, 2025. HANNAH RUHOFF hruhoff@sacbee.com
Vintage cars are driven down East Bidwell Street during a Veterans Day parade in Folsom on Tuesday, Nov. 11, 2025. HANNAH RUHOFF hruhoff@sacbee.com
De Vaughn Cross, left, passes out American flags during a Veterans Day parade in Folsom on Tuesday, Nov. 11, 2025. HANNAH RUHOFF hruhoff@sacbee.com
Ariya Rath, a member of Boy Scout Troop 1855, helps her troop carry an American flag during a Veterans Day parade in Folsom on Tuesday, Nov. 11, 2025. HANNAH RUHOFF hruhoff@sacbee.com
Folsom Cordova Unified School District participates in a Veterans Day parade in Folsom on Tuesday, Nov. 11, 2025. HANNAH RUHOFF hruhoff@sacbee.com
Logan Stuhr holds a sign that reads “thank you for my freedom,” during a Veterans Day parade in Folsom on Tuesday, Nov. 11, 2025. HANNAH RUHOFF hruhoff@sacbee.com
Families wave American flags during a Veterans Day parade in Folsom on Tuesday, Nov. 11, 2025. HANNAH RUHOFF hruhoff@sacbee.com
Parade watchers hold signs during a Veterans Day parade in Folsom on Tuesday, Nov. 11, 2025. HANNAH RUHOFF hruhoff@sacbee.com
Vintage cars are driven down East Bidwell Street during a Veterans Day parade in Folsom on Tuesday, Nov. 11, 2025. HANNAH RUHOFF hruhoff@sacbee.com
John Kinslow, a former SeaBee, waves to the parade participants during a Veterans Day parade in Folsom on Tuesday, Nov. 11, 2025. HANNAH RUHOFF hruhoff@sacbee.com
Lucian Schablaske, 5, waves an American flag during a Veterans Day parade in Folsom on Tuesday, Nov. 11, 2025. HANNAH RUHOFF hruhoff@sacbee.com
Victoria Roberts, right, sits next to a portrait of her father, Joseph Kozar, who was a veteran, during a Veterans Day parade in Folsom on Tuesday, Nov. 11, 2025. Roberts says she brings his portrait to the parade every year. HANNAH RUHOFF hruhoff@sacbee.com
Ben-Ali Shriners ride go-karts during a Veterans Day parade in Folsom on Tuesday, Nov. 11, 2025. HANNAH RUHOFF hruhoff@sacbee.com
A float themed around the TV show MASH rolls down East Bidwell Street during a Veterans Day parade in Folsom on Tuesday, Nov. 11, 2025. HANNAH RUHOFF hruhoff@sacbee.com
Tractors drive down East Bidwell Street during a Veterans Day parade in Folsom on Tuesday, Nov. 11, 2025. HANNAH RUHOFF hruhoff@sacbee.com
Parade participants march down East Bidwell Street during a Veterans Day parade in Folsom on Tuesday, Nov. 11, 2025. HANNAH RUHOFF hruhoff@sacbee.com
A parade participant waves with her dog from a float during a Veterans Day parade in Folsom on Tuesday, Nov. 11, 2025. HANNAH RUHOFF hruhoff@sacbee.com
A man dressed as Jesus carries the American flag as the Freedom Riders 1776 drive down East Bidwell Street during a Veterans Day parade in Folsom on Tuesday, Nov. 11, 2025. HANNAH RUHOFF hruhoff@sacbee.com
Arjun Ganti, a member of Boy Scout Troop 1855, helps his troop carry an American flag during a Veterans Day parade in Folsom on Tuesday, Nov. 11, 2025. HANNAH RUHOFF hruhoff@sacbee.com
A Vietnam veteran watches a Veterans Day parade in Folsom on Tuesday, Nov. 11, 2025. HANNAH RUHOFF hruhoff@sacbee.com
Parade participants march down East Bidwell Street during a Veterans Day parade in Folsom on Tuesday, Nov. 11, 2025. HANNAH RUHOFF hruhoff@sacbee.com
A parade participant wears an American flag hat during a Veterans Day parade in Folsom on Tuesday, Nov. 11, 2025. HANNAH RUHOFF hruhoff@sacbee.com
Folsom High School’s marching band and color guard marches during a Veterans Day parade in Folsom on Tuesday, Nov. 11, 2025. HANNAH RUHOFF hruhoff@sacbee.com
Veterans wave to the crowd as Casa Roble High School JROTC follows behind them during a Veterans Day parade in Folsom on Tuesday, Nov. 11, 2025. HANNAH RUHOFF hruhoff@sacbee.com
This story was originally published November 11, 2025 at 2:59 PM.
Hannah Ruhoff is the assistant visuals editor at The Sacramento Bee. Previously, she was a visual journalist at another McClatchy property, the Sun Herald in Biloxi, Miss. She is an Ohio University alumna and native of Shaker Heights, Ohio.
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