By Ted Winterer President, Ocean Park Association
How does one celebrate the Fourth of July in Santa Monica? The fireworks at the Pier are a dim memory and the Santa Monica College celebration never takes place on the holiday itself. Is it enough to commemorate our nation’s birth by merely spending a few hours at the beach before heading home to fire up the grill?
Seeking to add some organized holiday fun in a town which lacks a local event on the Fourth of July, the Ocean Park Association (OPA), in conjunction with the North of Montana Association (NOMA), is organizing a parade down Main Street from City Hall to the Venice border on the morning of July 4, at 9:30 a.m.
The Main Street Merchants (MSBIA), Wilshire- Montana Neighborhood Coalition (Wilmont), and various businesses and organizations are also helping to underwrite the cost of the parade.
Decorate yourselves, build a float, dress up your bikes, wagons or go-carts and celebrate Independence Day with a small town, community parade. “Best Decorated” wagon wins a surfboard from ZJ Boarding House, “Best Decorated” bike and others will win other prizes! Spectators welcome and encouraged!
Our Honorary Grand Marshal is retiring Roosevelt Elementary School Principal Jerry Harris. With 25 years of service to our kids, our schools and our community, Jerry is the perfect person to honor in our first parade. It’s our way of saying thanks for all that he has done for Santa Monica.
Information about participating in the parade and applications are available at www.opa-sm.org/parade. Individuals and families may register the morning of the parade. For groups, floats and those proposing vehicles or pets, the application deadline is Wednesday, June 26, 2007.
So come on out to Main Street on the Fourth of July for the parade!
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on June 25, 2007. Read the original PDF.