The History of Red Suspenders Day

A Volunteer Firefighters Celebration

In the year 1962 Gridley had many volunteer firefighters to watch over and keep Gridley safe. The department didn’t have any money for extra items so they decided to have a fundraiser.  A committee of 5 firefighters , Dutch Thayer, Earl King, Cub Wadsworth, Tommy Elliott and Jackie Robinson, came up with the idea of having a ‘Firemen’s Ball’. 

The police department was invited as some of the volunteer firefighters were also police officers.  They decided to hold this dance on the same day the Little League held their ‘pancake breakfast’ and the downtown merchants had their ‘sidewalk sale’, the third Saturday in May each year. The firemen rode the fire engine around town selling tickets for the ball to merchants and businesses. They thought for fun they would all wear ‘Red Suspenders’ to the ball. This fundraiser was a big success so the committee decided to make it an annual event.  But to have this event each year, they also decided to give the event a name. While they were talking about what to name the event, Nick Daddow, suggested they name the event ‘Red Suspenders Day’ because they all wore the red suspenders for the ball.  The volunteer firefighters managed the event for approximately 4 years.

When it was suggested to add a parade to the day, the Gridley Area Chamber offered to handle the event, and has done so to this date. Somewhere along the way the dance lost its appeal and other events were added to make the day a family affair such as clown alley, bed races, food – arts & craft vendors, car shows, kids area of fun and games.  Gridley still starts the day with the Little League pancake breakfast, merchants still have sidewalk sales and recently added is the flyover at the beginning of the parade by helicopters, a pinewood derby for kids, a trike race for kids and the firefighters have water barrel competitions and water games.

Today the fire department, career and volunteer fire fighters are involved with bringing to Gridley the largest parade of fire fighting equipment in Northern California for this event.

Added to the fun, the fire department and police department hold a softball game the night before, ‘Guns v. Hoses’ at the Little League Ball Park to kickoff this fun event.