The extravagant Party Gras parade kicked off on this day in 1990 as part of Disneyland’s 35th anniversary celebration. The debut parade followed one of the most elaborate press events since the opening of Disneyland and reunited the three hosts of the original televised opening day festivities—Art Linkletter, Bob Cummings, and former President Ronald Reagan—along with a roster of celebrity guests who were also in the park on opening day. After the morning ceremonies, press and guests were treated to the all new Party Gras, which featured New Orleans-style floats, 40-foot-tall balloons of Disney characters, and some special performers—President Reagan and all of the special guests on hand! As if the infectious music wasn’t enough, dancers threw beads to the audience along with commemorative 35th anniversary coins, and then, just as the energy level peaked, dancers brought guests into the street for a conga line before showering them with confetti. As the lyrics to the main theme stated, “No one can resist the magic and the mystic music of the Party Gras!”
