Two former Oakland Raiders players are sharing a title other than teammates this summer. Rod Woodson and John Parrella will be co-grand marshals of this year's Alameda County Fair Parade.
Woodson is an 11-time Pro Bowl selection and was the first in National Football League history to make the event playing three different positions: cornerback, kick returner and safety. He now is an analyst for NFL Network program "NFL Total Access," with Rich Eisen.
Parrella, a former defensive lineman, is the coach of the new football program at Valley Christian High School in Dublin.
More than 10,000 spectators are expected to attend the June 21 event that ushers in the fair season. The fair runs June 20 through July 6.
The parade will start at Amador Valley High School on Santa Rita Road and wind through the city's downtown to Rose Avenue. It will end at the fairgrounds.
The fair is expecting about 2,000 participants including several bands, such as an Eagle Scout band, the American High School band and others.
Oversized helium parade balloons, such as a gigantic jockey and horse, musical notes and a patriotic star, return for a third year. The balloons will hover over the 1-mile route and there will be a number of floats, including an entry by the San Francisco Bay Bombers roller derby team.
Parade entries are still being accepted until Friday and the fair is still looking for volunteer balloon handlers and street monitors. For details, visit www.alamedacountyfair.com or call 925-426-7600.
The fair, in addition to the horse racing and carnival games, rides and various fried foods and foods on a stick, has a lineup of free concerts at 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. every night during the fair.
This year's headliners will be: children's entertainers The Doodlebops, June 20; country musician Terri Clark, June 21; R&B group Boyz II Men, June 22; Eagles tribute band Life In The Fast Lane, June 23; contemporary Christian artist Mark Schultz, June 24; country musician Ronnie Milsap, June 25; disco cover band Cheeseballs, June 26; 1970s rock group Pablo Cruise, June 27; jazz musician Wayman Tisdale, June 28; comedian Paul Rodriguez, June 29; contemporary gospel and R&B group Trin-I-Tee 5:7, June 30; alternative rock band Fastball, July 1; singer-songwriter Eddie Money, July 2; funk-rock group War, July 3; Red White & Blues Festival, begins at noon, last show at 8 p.m., July 4; Latin rock group Los Lobos, July 5; country artist Steve Holy, July 6.
