Santa Clara Parade of Champions 2026/27 Internships
2026 Internship Opportunities:
Choose Half a year or Full year options. Get Project leadership Experience.
Application Deadline: May 1st for the Summer Internship and November 1st for the Winter Internship
Santa Clara Parade of Champions Internships
Join the Team Behind the Santa Clara Parade of Champions Festival & Sports FAN Zone & Year-Round Community Events!
Looking for an internship that’s hands-on, fun, and great for your college or career resume? The Santa Clara Parade of Champions hosts a variety of events throughout the year, and we’re hiring interns — both high school and college students — for Event Operations and Digital Media & Social Media. Gain real-world experience, meet new people, and be part of something meaningful in your community!
🎉 Event Operations Intern
Be on the frontlines helping our events run smoothly! Assist with setup and teardown of tents, tables, signs, and equipment, coordinate volunteers, solve problems on the spot, and keep everything on schedule. Perks: Earn community service hours, build teamwork and leadership skills, and gain hands-on experience in event logistics — all while being part of exciting, fast-paced events year-round.
📸 Event Marketing: Creative, Digital & Social Media Intern
Bring our events to life online! Create graphics, videos, social media posts, banners, and flyers, manage digital channels, and track engagement. Perks: Learn digital marketing, storytelling, and leadership, build a portfolio with real-world work, and make your resume stand out — all while sharing the excitement of our events with the community.
Why You’ll Love It:
Be part of historic, community-centered events celebrating unity, pride, and local culture.
Work with a fun, supportive team that values your ideas.
Gain skills, experience, and memories that last far beyond the events themselves.
Ready to dive in and make an impact? Your hands-on adventure starts here! Scroll down on how to apply.
About Us
The Santa Clara Parade of Champions is a nonprofit organization celebrating community, history, and local heroes through parades and year-round events. Since 1945, we’ve brought people together to honor achievements and create memorable experiences. Our charitable initiatives support youth scholarships, veterans, and families facing medical crises, making a real difference in the lives of our community members.
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Event Operations Internship
Who This Role Is Great For
Those who enjoy hands-on, team-based work. Anyone interested in event planning, community service, or nonprofit work. Individuals who like problem-solving, staying organized, and thinking on their feet. Youth comfortable with light to moderate lifting and physical tasks. Students looking to gain real-world experience in leadership, communication, and event operations.
What You’ll Do
Set up and take down tents, tables, chairs, signs, barriers, and other equipment. Help Organize event areas, staging zones, and operational spaces to keep them safe and on schedule. Some need to Lift and move equipment safely (light to moderate lifting) with team support. Ensure all materials and equipment are returned and stored properly. Support event-day operations, troubleshoot issues, and solve small problems quickly. Assist and guide volunteers or other interns when assigned to lead a task. You will Work in a fast-paced, team-focused environment with professionalism, positivity, and respect.
Basically, help coordinate moving parts between departments, vendors, performers, and logistics teams.
Skills You Will Gain
1) Teamwork and leadership
2) Real-world problem solving
3) Event planning and logistics
4) Time management and organization
5) Professional communication
6) Community service and nonprofit experience
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Event Marketing Internship
Who This Role Is Great For
Students who enjoy art, design, video, or photography and are interested in marketing, media, communications, or business. Creative thinkers who like working with technology and responsible students who want leadership experience. Team players who enjoy working at live events
What You’ll Do
As a Digital Media & Social Media Intern, you will help create and share content that promotes the Santa Clara Parade of Champions and connects with the community. This role is perfect for students who enjoy creativity, technology, and teamwork.
You will help design graphics and marketing materials using Canva, create short videos and photos, and assist with banners, flyers, and event signage. You will also help post content on social media platforms like Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, Facebook, and LinkedIn, and respond to messages and comments in a professional way.
You will learn how to work with real marketing tools, support live event coverage, help fix posting or formatting issues, and work with printers and vendors to make sure materials are ready on time. You will also learn how to track engagement and performance to see what content works best.
Skills You Will Build
1) Social media marketing
2) Video and photo editing
3) Teamwork and communication
4) Leadership and project responsibility
5) Real-world problem solving
6) Event marketing experience
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What we are looking for...
Currently a Senior that is college bound or enrolled in college, or a recent graduate of a Bachelor’s program in Marketing, Communications, or related field.
1) Shows Initiative, Detail-oriented with Strong organizational, written and verbal communication skills.
2) Creative thinker and Problem solver
3) Familiarity with social media platforms and their respective best practices.
4) Graphics and video are a plus! Proficiency in Word/Excel/google and basic graphic design tools like Canva.
5) Ability to work independently on a project, and as part of a team in a fast-paced environment.
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How to Apply
To apply for this internship, please submit the following documents:
Resume
Cover Letter (Tell us about your passion for marketing and social media, and why you're the perfect fit for this internship)
Portfolio (Optional, but highly encouraged)