Fourth of July on the Peninsula

The parade kicks off promptly at 10 a.m. and is part of a packed lineup of free events, beginning with a pancake breakfast at 7:30 a.m. and ending with live music, food trucks and a fireworks display at the port at 9:30 p.m.

Fireworks will also light up the sky in Foster City, and Half Moon Bay will host its own parade at noon and a barbecue block party kicks off at 8 a.m.

Back in Redwood City, a 5K race for runners and walkers along the parade route begins at 8 a.m. with a starting line at the corner of Arguello and Marshall streets. Starting July 3, professional and amateur artists will be turning downtown streets into chalk-based artworks and, throughout the day, the San Mateo County History Museum will offer children’s’ activities and screen vintage films of the San Francisco Peninsula from the museum’s archives.

The Redwood City parade travels throughout the downtown, and will feature at least 11 floats, the new Miss California, antique vehicles, numerous marching bands, community organizations, city officials, Mexican dance groups and more.

Some will be setting up folding chairs starting at midnight, and before the city passed an ordinance, people were staking out viewing spots days in advance of the parade. It’s also not uncommon for people who have moved away from town to return for the parade.

Redwood City’s Fourth of July celebration is organized by a group of volunteers in the Peninsula Celebration Association. Robert Slusser, a longtime resident, has been one of those volunteers for more than 20 years.

He handles much of the behind-the-scenes work, including building floats, and this year he’ll again design the one transporting Miss California.

Years ago, a group of volunteers, including carpenters and metalworkers, would build from scratch at least one or two floats in his driveway starting about a month before the holiday.

“The neighborhood knew we were working on floats as soon as the air compressors and ratchets started up in the driveway, and people would drive down the street and wave and yell and say ‘looks good,’” he said.

Slusser is also a consultant for those constructing other floats in the parade, and the organization holds workshops for first-time float builders.

“Some people think if you just put on streamers and balloons that’s OK, but the winners have a theme, they have color and music or something unique that draws the audience to them,” he said. The parade floats will be judged by an independent organization.

Redwood City’s parade culminates in a carnival and, throughout the day, a festival will offer arts and crafts, food, drinks, kids’ activities and the annual battle of the bands event, which entails a face off between the Stanford Marching Band and the Cal Aggie Band-uh! from the University of California, Davis.

“That’s a hit and becoming almost a destination event because of the alumni from both organizations that live in the community,” Slusser said.

The San Mateo celebration entails music, face-painting and patriotic hair coloring as well as an inflatable obstacle course and trackless train all gathering at King Park from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

In Foster City, in addition to a fireworks show over the lagoon at 9:30 p.m., a family dog parade will commence at 11 a.m. at the VIBE Teen Center, and games, live music will be offered throughout the day.

Before Half Moon Bay’s parade begins, a marching band followed by The Wall of Blues band will perform at Mac Dutra Plaza, and until 3 p.m. wine, beer and mimosas will be on offer. Parents can also bring their kids to a children’s area with a petting zoo and face painting.

zachary@smdailyjournal.com

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