When it comes to the Fourth of July, Redwood City is the place to be.
For decades, the county seat has honored our nation’s independence with parades and fireworks shows that have delighted thousands.
This year will be no exception.
The fun starts Saturday morning with a pancake breakfast with Redwood City firefighters at 7:30 a.m. with a 5K race to follow at 8:45 a.m.
The 77th Annual Fourth of July Parade by the Peninsula Celebration Association kicks off downtown at 10 a.m. and will feature about 200 floats, including the Stanford Marching Band and appearance by Miss California Bree Morse, who will make her first public appearance since being crowned.
The fireworks extravaganza at the Port of Redwood City starts at 9:30 p.m.
In between the parade and fireworks show, the annual Fourth of July Carnival will be held in the parking lot at Veterans Boulevard and Winslow Street.
The 29th Annual Independence Day Festival starts at 9 a.m. and offers arts and crafts, food, beverages and activities for children covering several city blocks.
At noon, Marshall Law Band will perform at Courthouse Square and later that night Livewire will perform at 7 p.m. at the port leading up to the fireworks show where food trucks will also be set up.
The morning parade, with this year’s theme being “Our American Heritage, The Fabulous ’50s,” is being put on by the nonprofit group Peninsula Celebration Association, which started in spirit in 1939.
Robert Anderson, past president of the nonprofit, has been involved in the parade for 40 years.
He helped build a float for the bicentennial parade when he was 6 years old when his mother and father participated.
His daughter Christina is the third generation of Andersons to volunteer.
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“I’ve grown up doing it,” Anderson said.
On Thursday, they were busy along with current President Bob Slusser, his wife Elena, Paul Sanfilipo and Nancy Radcliffe helping to decorate the float on which Miss California will ride.
Miss Redwood City/San Mateo County Emily Mcneil will ride in the convertible hauling the float.
Sanfilipo has been volunteering for the parade for 48 years and Radcliffe is the co-executive director of the Miss Redwood City/San Mateo County Pageant.
It takes a small core of volunteers the entire year to plan the parade with about 50 on hand the day of the parade.
Slusser, however, said there’s never enough volunteers to put the whole thing together as he was building the float.
All the floats in the parade also have a team of volunteers behind them.
About 65 organizations are participating in this year’s parade.
“Redwood City shines every Fourth of July,” Redwood City Mayor Jeffrey Gee wrote in a statement. “The City Council would like to thank all partners and sponsors for their work to organize the many events that draw visitors from all over the region. These supporters help make Redwood City a community for all ages to enjoy every Independence Day. Our family-friendly Fourth of July Parade is the biggest on the Peninsula, and our annual fireworks display at the port always attracts thousands of viewers.”
Visit redwoodcity.org/events/july4.html for more information on Redwood City’s Fourth of July celebration events.
(650) 344-5200 ext. 102
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