Parades marking the 238th anniversary of the nation’s independence will be held Friday throughout Los Angeles County with themes inspired by such diverse sources as “The Star-Spangled Banner” and
“Star Wars.”
Recently appointed Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr will be the grand marshal of the 66th annual Pacific Palisades Fourth of July Parade, which is set to begin at 2 p.m. on Sunset Boulevard, between Via de la Paz and Drummond Street.
Kerr was raised in Pacific Palisades and graduated from Palisades High School. His mother still lives in the community and annually hosts Fourth of July parties for visiting foreign exchange students, parade organizer Richard Wilken told City News Service.
The parade’s theme is “Star-Spangled Palisades.” Kim Traenkle, who submitted the winning entry, said it was inspired by her daughter Jacquie’s learning the words to “The Star-Spangled Banner.”
Westchester’s 15th annual Fourth of July Parade is scheduled to begin at 11 a.m. and will be held along Loyola Boulevard from Westchester Park to Loyola Marymount University.
The parade’s theme is “Love My America!” which will be represented by all 50 entries, according to Christina Davis, the president and CEO of the LAX Coastal Chamber of Commerce, which organizes the parade. KABC-TV Channel 7 anchor Jovana Lara, a Loyola Marymount graduate, will be the grand marshal
Santa Monica’s eighth annual Fourth of July parade will begin at 9:30 a.m. at Main Street and Pico Boulevard. Its theme is “May the 4th Be With You!”
San Gabriel’s 4th of July Parade will begin at 9:30 a.m. at Plaza Park, in front of the San Gabriel Mission, then head north through the Mission district, continue east on Broadway and conclude at Smith Park.
The Valley Village Homeowners Association Fourth of July Parade will begin at Colfax Elementary School at 10 a.m. and conclude at Valley Village Park, where the association will provide corn dogs, watermelon, cold drinks and cupcakes. The parade is billed as a “red, white and blue celebration” where residents are encouraged to create their own floats and displays.
The 11th annual Great American Kids’ Bike Parade will begin at 10 a.m. at 1 Granada Ave. on the beach bike path in Long Beach. Long Beach police Chief Jim McDonnell, a candidate for Los Angeles County sheriff, is among the expected guests.
Sierra Madre’s 4th of July Parade will include children on decorated bicycles, classic cars and the band from The Gooden School. The 1.3-mile two-hour parade will begin at 10 a.m. at the corner of Sierra Madre Boulevard and Sunnyside Avenue, and travel the length of Sierra Madre Boulevard to Sierra
Vista Park.
Husband-and-wife Pat and De Alcorn will be the grand marshal. Pat serves on the Community Services Commission, the 4th of July Committee, Sierra Madre Civic Club and Friends of the Library.
Other parade participants include Los Angeles County Supervisor Mike Antonovich, Rep. Judy Chu, D-San Gabriel, and Assemblyman Chris Holden, D-Pasadena.
Rosemead’s parade will begin at 10 a.m. at Muscatel Avenue and Valley Boulevard and will include floats, bands, dignitaries and classic cars.
The Sunland-Tujunga Independence Day parade is set to begin at 10 a.m. at Foothill Boulevard and Mt. Gleason Avenue, head west along Foothill Boulevard and end at Sunland Park. Its theme is “Celebrating Arts in the Foothills.”
The Holmby Westwood Property Owners Association 4th of July Parade will begin at 10 a.m. at Warner Avenue School and conclude in Holmby Park.
South Pasadena’s 32nd annual Festival of Balloons Fourth of July Parade will have the theme “The Y… Serving Our Community for 100 Years.” It will begin at 11 a.m. at the South Pasadena Library.
