Corrales as a village has reduced their carbon footprint by installing solar panels on all of the village facilities.  The Village of Corrales selected 310 Solar Energy of Albuquerque,New Mexico to complete 100% facility design/installation of photo voltaic systems which were completely funded through local investment partners. Local investment made it possible for the Village of Corrales to get solar without the usual capital investment or maintenance issues.  It is believed that Corrales is the first village of its size to convert all its facilities to solar power.  Facilities converted include; Village Hall, the Senior Center, Council Building, Community Center, Village Maintenance, Library and both Fire Stations after the initial Recreation Center installation. The conversion, which has taken place over a two year period, will save the Village money formerly spent on energy costs, and positions Corrales to be a leader in the greening of local government facilities.

 The parade is sponsored by Corrales MainStreet and features all things great about small town parades.   People stake out their favorite parade viewing spot early on, sometimes before 7am.  And it’s not just people who live in Corrales.  People come from the surrounding communities to catch the parade.  And everyone seems to love it!  The parade lasts for about one hour.  As befitting any small town parade, there were kids on decorated bikes and kids with their decorated pets. 

  Corrales is a huge horse community and the parade reflected this fact.  Horses with their tails, manes and shoes decorated were ridden down the parade route followed closely by the ever popular pooper scoopers. 

 Local organizations and business decorated vehicles and drove the parade route.  Many of the floats threw candy or small giveaways to the kids lining the parade route. 

Of course, what is a parade without a marching band?  We had a group of pipers as well as a dixieland band pulled on a float.  Sadly absent this year was the ever popular Kazoo band playing patriotic music while attempting precision marching!   Perhaps they will make an appearance next year.

There was a group of clowns in the prerequisite small cars.  And motorcycles both big and VERY small. 

Members of the Ford Model A group showed off their beautifully restored cars and were joined by other cars, new and old, decorated for the holiday.

 Corrales is an agricultural community so tractors, old and new, participated in the parade.  Some were pulling floats.  Others made their way down the parade route solo. 

This year’s parade featured Revolutionary and Civil War reanactors marching or riding in formation.  They were accompanied by women and children dressed in period costumes.  And, of course, what would a 4th of July parade be without veterans of our more recent conflicts.  The American Legion float was applauded the length of the parade.

And we can’t forget the Super Soakers.  As we all know, it’s hot on the 4th of July.  Somewhere in the history of the parade, super soakers were introduced.  Not officially of course.  They just happened.  Some people on floats used them to cool off the parade watchers and the watchers have reciprocated.  Now they are just as much a part of the parade as the animals and the floats.  There is a super soaker etiquette that is to be followed.   Up to a certain point in the parade you have to keep the super soakers holstered.  The Corrales Swim Team float signals that part of the parade where super soakers are in play.  And for those parade watchers who don’t relish a super soaker soaking, there is a no soak zone!   Something for everyone at the Corrales 4th of July parade. 

Hope to see you here next year!

The Village of Corrales is a small, treasured oasis located within a large, fast-growing metropolitan area. The Village is bordered on the east by the Rio Grande and, across the river, by the Sandia Indian Reservation.

To the south is the City of Albuquerque while to the west and north is the City of Rio Rancho.

The greater metropolitan area numbers well over a half million people, but Corrales, about 7300 in population, aggressively strives to retain a rural lifestyle.

Prehistoric sites indicate the Corrales Valley has been occupied as early as 500 A.D. when the ancestors of the present-day Indian Pueblos derived sustenance from the fertile valley.

Subsequent populations, including Hispanic, European and American families, settled here to raise grapes, apples, and livestock.

Today, Corrales is distinguished by its broad green pastures and orchards, its rich historic and artistic character, and of course the sounds and scents of roosters, cows, horses and sheep. To cross the borders into Corrales is to step into another time and place where the stresses of twenty-first century life give way to the grace and pace of another era.  Tale a minute to watch this video, filmed for a local TV appearance by our mayor, to see  all Corrales has to offer.  http://www.kasa.com/dpp/nm_style/features/chasing-the-fox-corrales