Like budding flowers or the birth of baby animals, a sure sign of spring is Petaluma’s Butter & Egg Days, a celebration of the city’s history and the vibe that makes the Sonoma County city special.
The event, over two weekends, culminates with a parade and downtown festival on April 18. The kickoff event is Saturday, when a top citizen is recognized with the Good Egg award, given for keeping the city’s heritage alive.
Petaluma, a lively city of nearly 60,000 residents, started as a dairy and egg producing agricultural town in 1858. Its past is celebrated each April. The first Butter & Egg celebration was in 1918. After pausing during the Depression, the event began again in 1982.
Floats are part of the Petaluma Butter & Egg Days parade in downtown Petaluma every April. Floats in past years have included entries from Clover Sonoma, the dairy company famous for its fun mascot Clo the Cow. (Jim Johnson via Bay City News) 
Floats are part of the Petaluma Butter & Egg Days parade in downtown Petaluma every April. Floats in past years have included entries from Bodega Bay Oyster Company. (Jim Johnson via Bay City News)
“It’s evolved into a rather large parade,” says Marie McCusker, executive director of the city’s Downtown Association and Visitors Program, chief organizer of the parade and festival. The noon parade showcases over 100 floats, bands and cars with approximately 3,000 participants. Over 200 volunteers help the event run smoothly.
“It is the one day that the entire community comes together,” she says.
Much of the focus at the event is on agriculture, which is still big business in Petaluma. Clover Sonoma, with its iconic cow Clo, has a major dairy production facility in the city. A feed mill towers over downtown.
“Our ties to agriculture are still very strong and it’s a great opportunity to celebrate that past as well as our present,” says Stacey Atchley, executive director of the Petaluma Historical Library and Museum.
The free April 18 festivities offer many activities for children, including a contest with toddlers dressed in chick-inspired outfits, vying for the title of cutest. A short children’s parade is held at 11:30 a.m.
The theme of this year’s Butter & Eggs Parade is America’s 250th birthday. Other events on April 18 include a cow chip throwing competition.
The Good Egg award will be given in front of the Historical Library and Museum at noon on Saturday. Mayor Kevin McDonnell will read a proclamation honoring the recipient. Also on hand will be Heidi Kühn of San Rafael, who is this year’s parade grand marshal. Kuhn, founder and CEO of the nonprofit organization Roots of Peace, received the 2023 World Food Prize for her work to remove landmines around the world and turn the land into productive agricultural areas. Kühn’s great-great grandfather was John McNear, an early Petaluma pioneer.
Next week’s parade in historic downtown includes a festival with live music, craft booths, food for sale and large play areas for children. If that’s a bit much, visitors to this year’s festival also may take advantage of a nearby quiet area that organizers are calling the Healthy Petaluma Community Relaxation Lounge.
McCusker said 35,000 people attend the Butter & Egg Days, with many visitors coming from out of town. Buses are free, as is on-street parking. Visitors can take the SMART train to downtown Petaluma from other points in Marin and Sonoma counties.
The Butter & Egg Days Parade & Festival runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. April 18 in and around B and Fourth streets, Petaluma; the parade starts at noon at D and Fourth streets. Visit petalumadowntown.com.