In less than three weeks, Santa Clarita will be awash in crepe paper and red white and blue, celebrating America’s independence.
Part of that Fourth of July celebration is a parade down Main Street, Lyons Avenue and Orchard Village Road, a tradition that’s been going on in grand style since 1932.
The annual parade features floats, bands, marchers, riders, beauty queens, singers, dancers, horses and even “Doo Dah” types, all turning out to salute the theme “Fun In the SCV.”
In true American tradition, the all-volunteer parade committee has a special money-saving proposal for parade participants with a two-tiered entry fee. Those entrants who file their paperwork by Friday, June 19 will only have to pay $35 for non-commercial entries (individuals, nonprofit organizations) and $150 for commercial entries (businesses, including dance team companies and beauty pageants).
If applications are received between June 19 and the absolute drop-dead deadline, June 26, the fees go up to $50 for non-commercial and $200 for commercial. Absolutely no entries will be accepted after 5 p.m. June 26, regardless of postmark.
New for this year is the parade’s starting time, 9 a.m. The starting time was moved up an hour to accommodate younger and older entrants who will benefit from the cooler early temperatures.
The committee also is proud to announce that Jay Thomas, the President of Six Flags Magic Mountain, will be this year’s Grand Marshal. Thomas promises a lively entry from the amusement park for the parade. Trophies will be awarded for the best in a variety of categories, including bands, drill or flag team, youth group/float, color guard, “Do-Dah” style, commercial, non-commercial and religious floats, specialized vehicles, car and motorcycle clubs and 30 equestrian categories.
Other Independence Day events include a pancake breakfast put on by the Santa Clarita Rotary Club in the parking lot of Roger Dunn Golf at the corner of Newhall Avenue and 5th Street and a 5K run-walk sponsored by the Santa Clarita Runners that will start and end at Newhall Park. The 5K and a much shorter Kids Run starts at 8 a.m.
There are no city-sponsored activities planned for Newhall Park after the parade, but later in the evening, the city will put on its free annual fireworks show at the Westfield Valencia Town Center. Pyrotechnics will be shot from the roof of the parking lot above Buca de Beppo. There will also be a fireworks show at Castaic Lake, admission is $5 per person walk-in, $25 per carload.
For a complete list of parade rules and regulations, frequently asked questions, history and photos and parade applications themselves, go to scvparade.com.