KVMR Launches 2nd Annual ‘Caravan of Love’ through Nevada City, Grass Valley This Sunday

Community Radio KVMR 89.5 FM is assembling “The Caravan of Love” – their second annual Covid-safe love-themed motorcade this Sunday, April 3rd, through Nevada City and Grass Valley, with everyone invited to take part. 

“We intended this event as a safe way to get together in the spirit of love and unity last winter when Covid was keeping us all separated and politically divided,” says Brian Terhorst, President of KVMR’s Board of Directors. “As it turns out, even though our Covid numbers are improving dramatically by the day, the need for love and togetherness seems almost more important this year than last year.”

First organized by KVMR’s Board of Directors in 2021 on Valentine’s Day, this year’s vehicle motorcade – a “Caravan” – will be welcoming the arrival of spring. Participants are invited to gather at Noon this Sunday at the Eric Rood Administrative Center parking lot in Nevada City, near the Madelyn Helling Library.

The 2022 Caravan of Love will depart at 12:30pm from the Rood Center and head down West Broad Street, onto Broad Street, and through Downtown Nevada City making its way to Grass Valley.  Parade route maps will be distributed at 12pm at the event. Each participant will also be given a commemorative KVMR Caravan of Love sticker.

“We’ve all faced huge challenges over the past two years,” says Board Member, Paula Galindo, who originally conceived the Caravan. “We’ve seen how resilient our community is. We invite everyone to join the Caravan, drive along with friends, great music, and energize the community by celebrating what makes us strong – Love, Solidarity, Creativity, and Friendship.”

Coinciding with the motorcade, KVMR will live broadcast the “Caravan of Love Radio Special” featuring uplifting songs, also in a love theme. Galindo, also a KVMR broadcaster, invites Caravan participants – and all KVMR listeners – to tune in to 89.5FM or stream live online KVMR.org to hear the program from Noon to 2 p.m. this Sunday.

Participants are encouraged to decorate their vehicles in love themes such as hearts, flowers, etc. KVMR specifically requests that political materials not be displayed. “We hope people will get creative with their decorations,” invites former Board Member, Elisa Parker, who last year provided live radio updates from within the Caravan.

“Decorating your vehicles isn’t a requirement but it really adds to the celebration,” says Elisa. She plans to give embedded reports from the Caravan again this Sunday. 

Since this is a Covid-safe event, participants are asked to remain in their vehicles at all times and to obey the normal rules of the road. Board Members and KVMR Volunteers will be on hand at a safe distance to help get the motorcade lined up and disembarked at the right time.

The April 3rd Caravan of Love has been coordinated with the Cities of Nevada City and Grass Valley. “Last year’s Caravan created a colorful, positive spectacle in Downtown Nevada City and Grass Valley,” remembers Terhorst. “As the motorcade made its way along its route, additional vehicles spontaneously joined in. KVMR has received a lot of requests to bring it back again this year … and so we are!”

In order to have a general idea of how many vehicles will be in the Caravan, the KVMR Board is asking those who intend to join the Caravan to send an R.S.V.P. email to theboard@kvmr.org. The Board asks that you include ‘Caravan of Love’ in the subject line and indicate the number of vehicles you intend to bring. Goody bags will be provided to the first fifty vehicles to confirm their participation.