Villa Parke Youth Soccer League Kicks Off Season With Inauguration Parade Saturday

Pasadena City College’s men’s soccer coaching staff will lead a free youth clinic Saturday at the Villa Parke Youth Soccer League’s annual inauguration parade, adding a college-level training component to the city’s season-opening celebration.

The league, which the City of Pasadena describes as the largest youth sports program run by its Parks, Recreation and Community Services Department, opens its 2026 season with the parade and ceremony from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Villa Parke turf field, at the corner of Parke Street and Garfield Avenue, adjacent to the Villa Parke Community Center at 363 E. Villa St.

Approximately 70 teams of young athletes will march alongside their coaches and city officials during the parade, which serves as the official kickoff to the soccer season, according to a city press release. A celebration follows the parade, with arts and crafts and photo opportunities.

The free clinic, open to youth 8 and older, will be led by PCC head men’s soccer coach Francisco Cantero, members of his coaching staff and Lancers players, according to the press release. Cantero, a Marshall Fundamental High and PCC alumnus who played as a starting defender for the Lancers in 2009-2010, was named South Coast Conference North Division Coach of the Year after leading PCC to its first postseason victories at Robinson Stadium.

The Villa Parke Youth Soccer League was established in 1989 and serves more than 1,000 young athletes each season, according to the city press release. The city’s youth soccer webpage describes the league as having been established in the 1970s, while the press release uses the 1989 date. The league serves athletes ages 2-18.

For information about the parade, contact the Villa Parke Community Center at (626) 744-6530. Registration for youth sports programs is available at CityOfPasadena.net/Reserve. Updates are posted on Instagram and Facebook at @PasadenaParksandRec.