One night only: Cattle Drive to make return to Folsom parade celebration

The Hometown Cattle Drive is returning next Wednesday, July 1, as part of Folsom's holiday celebration marking the United States' 250th birthday. "We are bringing the Cattle Drive back just this year because of the nation's 250th, because of the city's 80th, because of the rodeo's 65th, and even the Chamber of Commerce is hitting 80 this year," said Judy Collinsworth, executive director of the Folsom Historic District Association. "So lots to celebrate, and people ask us every single year, when are you going to bring the Cattle Drive back? So for this year, it felt like the perfect time to do this." The Cattle Drive hasn't been held in at least a decade and was canceled in 2013 because of hot summer weather. This Cattle Drive will start at a new time – 8 p.m. Wednesday, following the Historic Folsom Hometown Parade at 7. Collinsworth said there will be about 50 cattle total, including about 10 longhorn, and they'll follow the normal parade route. They'll stage on the 300 block of Sutter Street and proceed down to Reading Street, where they will be corralled and loaded onto trailers. She said when the Hometown Parade started in 2018, "People kept asking for a parade … but we weren't ready for a Cattle Drive at that point." Having attended years ago, Collinsworth said the event was "well-attended and fun. It's very nostalgic." Collinsworth is encouraging people to utilize SacRT Light Rail to travel to and from the event. Light Rail will be free to ride from 3-10 p.m. July 1, and passengers can bring lawn chairs onto the train. Passengers will receive "a little free gift" when they get off the train, she said. "We want to incentivize families and anyone to take Light Rail to keep roads open and not so impacted," she said. "We have such an impact in the district when we have big events, we would appreciate if people would go to the website and get here by Light Rail. A QR code is located at historicfolsom.org and on the event poster.