Get set for a festive Fourth of July
Decorated bike parade a Del Mar tradition
Come join the fun for an Independence Day Parade on at 9 a.m. on July 4th at Powerhouse Park. The Del Mar Foundation invites the families of Del Mar to decorate their bikes, scooter, wagons, baby stroller, and leashed pets, and to march at Powerhouse Park. The mayor and city council members will lead the parade, which is being sponsored by foundation again this year.
Start planning now to march in the parade. In former years, parade marchers have dressed up as patriotic figures such as the Statue of Liberty and Abraham Lincoln. Bike entries have come with streamers in the spokes and handlebars, and lots of flags. There were colorful wagons and carriages, and even a unicycle. Many women marched with sunhats decorated with red, white and blue ribbons and flowers. Marchers came with their leashed dogs wearing red, white and blue scarves, ribbons and jackets.
So start thinking how you want to display your patriotism in the parade this year. Assemble your red, white and blue fabric, ribbons, crepe paper, and other materials. Then pull out that glue gun and decorate that hat or bike or dog — or all three.
This year participants will march to live music provided by “Hullabaloo,” who will play a short concert after the parade. If you don’t get the opportunity to prepare to march, come on down to the Powerhouse at 9 a.m. to watch the parade and enjoy the music. Bring your beach chair and coffee. Following the parade officials will pass out ribbons to some of the best parade entrants in various age categories.
The event is free of charge. Adult supervision is required for all children.
Advice for anyone heading to La Jolla for the 26th annual Fourth of July festivities: Be prepared for a great time, say organizers, but come early, bring a jacket and brace for traffic. The same advice holds true for fireworks displays planned throughout the county. (See below for a sampling.)
On July 4 from 5 to 10 p.m., Coast Boulevard will be closed to parking from the lifeguard station to South Coast Boulevard and Cave Street going down to the Cove will be off-limits to through traffic.
In its second year running the show at La Jolla Cove, La Jolla Community Fireworks Foundation members say they’re excited the courtroom drama is behind them and they’re ready for a fun event.
They were feeling even more relieved late Friday when Livia Borak, a legal a legal intern with Gonzalez’s Coast Law Group said Friday at 5 p.m. that they did not appeal the denial of their request for a temporary restraining order to stop the display because of environmental concerns.
“But we are still going to pursue the underlying claims,” she said. She would not elaborate.
The grassy area at Scripps Park will fill up early so those who want a seat near the Third Marine Aircraft Wing Band and the Four Bones Trombone Quartet should plan ahead, said Adam Harris, who organized the foundation with a lot of hard work from Deborah Marengo of Goldfish Point Cafe.
The free show will begin at 7 with music, followed by the pyrotechnic display at about 9:15 p.m.
“It’s probably going to be partly to most cloudy,” forecaster Noel Isla of the National Weather Service said Friday about Sunday night’s forecast. “It (temperature) will be in the lower 60s.”
La Jollans and visitors will also look for fun to the beaches and to the Beaumont Avenue celebration that begins at 11 a.m.
Lifeguards are anticipating rough surf conditions and large crowds, while police say they are beefing up staff and resources to ensure a peaceful ourth of July in the Jewel.
“We’re going to provide a strong police presence which we’ve done for the last four years with a command station at Kellogg Park in La Jolla Shores to deal with crowds anticipated at the beach,” said San Diego Police Lt. Jim Filley, adding officers will assume a non-aggressive posture with guests.
Most of what they’ll do, he added, will not be crime-related.
“The biggest problems we deal with in the La Jolla area are people not being vigilant about trash and fire rings,” he said, noting people leave behind illegal glass containers and don’t properly dispose of hot coals from fire rings which become hazards causing accidental injuries to others, especially children.
They will also monitor the crowd at the Cove during the evening festivities, he added.
FOURTH OF JULY GUIDE
In addition to the fireworks event at La Jolla Cove, here are some other July 4th events around the region:
NORTH COUNTY
- Red, White and Boom! Legoland California’s annual Fourth of July event with fireworks, a patriotic building competition, fun family picnic games and performances by The Jumpitz. 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. July 4. Fireworks at 8:30 p.m.
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- Fair fireworks. San Diego County Fair. Gates open at 10 a.m.; traditional fireworks display happens at approximately 9 p.m.; evening entertainment lineup includes Joan Jett and the Blackhearts in a free-with-fair-admission performance on our Heineken Grandstand Stage immediately following the fireworks display.
The COASTER train will run on July 4th, with two trains (one running north and one running south) after the fireworks. Parking available at three free off-site lots: MiraCosta College’s San Elijo campus, Horsepark Equestrian Center, Torrey Pines High School. Visit
SDFair.com
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- Oceanside’s 17th Annual Independence Day Parade. Daylong event with family friendly activities, 10 a.m. July 3. North Tyson Street Park in Oceanside going from Coast Highway to Wisconsin Avenue to Civic Center Drive. (760) 535-5227 or
.
Also fireworks planned in Poway, Santee, Ramona and Escondido.
CENTRAL
- University City Fourth of July Celebration. Events throughout the day on July 4. 5K run/walk starts at 8 a.m. Pancake breakfast from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. Standley Middle School Marching Band leads bike and pet parade at 11 a.m. Opening ceremony at 11:30 a.m. Concerts, performances, food, beer garden, book barn and community booths run from 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Photo scavenger hunt at noon. Recreation parking lot closed to public, but trolley will run from 11:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. along Governor Drive with stops at Regents Road, Genesee Avenue and Interstate 805. Admission is free; $3 for pancake breakfast. Some additional activities may cost money. Stadley Park and recreation Center, 3585 Governor Drive. (858) 395-4318.
- Big Bay Boom. Downtown, 9 p.m. on July 4. Fireworks, from barges placed near Shelter Island, Harbor Island, the Embarcadero area and Seaport Village. Display is set to music from 105.7 “The Walrus” FM radio. (619) 686-6200 or
for parking/shuttle information and map.
- Mira Mesa Fourth of July celebration. Starting at noon, parade, family activities and fireworks at 9 p.m. July 4. Mira Mesa Community Park/Gil Johnson Recreation Center, 8575 New Salem St. (858) 538-8122.
SOUTH BAY
- “Star Spangled Pops.” SummerPops 2010 with Marvin Hamlisch: 7:30 p.m. July 2, 3 and 4; Kool & The Gang, 7:30 p.m. July 9 and 10, Embarcadero Marina Park South. Ticket prices vary. (619) 235-0804,
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- “Fireworks: Into the Blue.” SeaWorld fireworks display 9:30 p.m. July 4. Displays are nightly. SeaWorld San Diego, 500 SeaWorld Drive. (800) 25-SHAMU.
- Fireworks at the Pier. Display off the Ocean Beach Pier at 9 p.m. July 4. Show is simulcast to 103.7 FM. (619) 226-8613 or
.
- Coronado Fourth of July Celebration. Daylong festivities include a 15k run, 5k run/walk and rough-water swim. Live music. 10 a.m. July 3 parade; fireworks 9 p.m. July 4. At Spreckels Park and Glorietta Bay. (619) 328-2461 or
.