Community donations save Santa Monica’s only July 4th party
The city’s only fireworks celebration, which was canceled recently in the face of a statewide budget crisis, will be held after all, officials are expected to announce today.
The free event, called “Celebrate America” and held at Santa Monica College’s Corsair Field for the past 20 years, attracted more than 20,000 people last year.
“It is one of the nicest, safest events we have,” said Santa Monica City Councilman Herb Katz, who helped raise more than $3,500 to save the event. “This event makes people feel good about themselves, about Santa Monica and certainly about our country.
“It is one of the nicest, safest events we have. This event makes people feel good about themselves, about Santa Monica and certainly about our country. I just think it’s so good you don’t give it up.” — — HERB KATZ City Councilman
“I just think it’s so good, you don’t give it up.”
The announcement to stage the event — which will be held Saturday, June 28 — comes just one month after “Celebrate America” was canceled by SMC, where officials said it didn’t seem right to stage a party while teachers were being laid off and whole departments were being eliminated.
But after the city launched an intense fundraising effort, residents and local businesses began mailing in checks earmarked for the event.
Roughly 70 percent of the $50,000 needed has already been raised. More than $25,000 has come in through private donations and $10,000 has come directly from the city, said Don Girard, SMC marketing manager.
And judging by the response in the community so far, officials said Monday they are certain the rest of the money will follow.
Sponsorship money from Coca- Cola and a handful of other companies that goes to SMC will go toward the event, Girard said.
The SMC Board of Trustees was expected to vote last night to formally reinstate what has been Santa Monica’s sole Independence Day celebration for more than 10 years.
The city canceled it’s popular Fourth of July event in 1991, citing liability concerns. Controlling the massive crowds that congregated along the Palisades Park bluffs and the beaches below became too difficult, city officials said.
At this year’s celebration, barbershop group the Santa Monica Ocean Aires, the Santa Monica High School Marching Band and the J.D. Hall Band are expected to perform, with fireworks handled Gates open at 5 p.m. on June 28, and the festivities are scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. Parking at SMC’s Corsair Field, which is located at 16th Street and Pico Boulevard, is $5. Attendees may bring picnics or buy dinner from one of the several food vendors. Alcoholic beverages, glass containers, barbecues and personal fireworks are not allowed at the event.
Donations for “Celebrate America” are still being accepted. Checks made out to “Celebrate America/Santa Monica College” can be mailed to Judy Neveau, Director of Community Relations, Santa Monica College, 1900 Pico Blvd., Santa Monica, 90405.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on June 3, 2003. Read the original PDF.