After more than three decades the Keyes community is joining together to reprise the fall traditions of decades past on Saturday with the Keyes Fall Festivities Parade which hasn’t taken place in the town since 1981.

After community members vocalized a desire to see a community event to kick off the holiday season, three locals decided to get together to make it happen. Local soccer coach Jeff Greener and his friend of 30 years Jeff Reed, who serves on the Keyes School Board and Municipal Advisory Committee, teamed up with Linnie Osborn Roest of a local church to turn the idea of a long missed tradition back into an annual event.

“We have a Facebook page for Keyes City News and a group titled Bring Back Keyes Parade,” said Greener, who noted that the resurgence of interest in a fall festivity first began online with residents posting photos from former parades in the 1960s and 1970s. “We all have a lot on our plate but we decided we would take it on if people were willing to help.”

Saturday marks the first time since 1981 that Keyes community residents, local law enforcement, and students will march down the streets of Keyes for the Fall Festival Parade. The Keyes Sports Association, California Highway Patrol, kids soccer teams, festival floats, local families, long time teacher and grand marshal Barbara Spratling, as well as more than 12 vehicles from the 209 Rustbuckets Car Club will also make their way down 7th street for the event.

“The community has done a lot this year to come together and it’s really nice to see the community get involved,” said Greener. “There have been a lot of volunteers that have made this happen and we’re grateful for that.”

The Keyes Fall Festival Parade will take place at 9 a.m. Saturday starting at the Keyes Elementary School and will progress down Seventh Street.