The 75th Pacific Palisades 4th of July Parade — with “Diamond Jubilee in 2023” as the theme and Denise Crosby of “Star Trek: The Next Generation” serving as grand marshal — will be one of numerous parades around the Southland Tuesday to mark the United States’ 247th birthday.
The parade was set to begin at 2 p.m. on Sunset Boulevard at Via de la Paz with skydivers descending onto Sunset Boulevard.
Air Force Brig. Gen. David Smith will ride in the parade. Smith is special assistant to the commanding general, California State Guard and the director of the Air Force Production and Flight Test Facility at Plant 42 in Palmdale.
Meanwhile, Santa Monica’s parade returned to what organizers call its “classic route” after a one-year absence.
The parade began at Pico Boulevard and Main Street at about 9:30 a.m., traveled south on Main Street and right onto Marine Street, ending at Barnard Way. Its theme was “A Sign of Better Days to Come.”
The Santa Clarita Valley Fourth of July Parade began at 9 a.m. at the Newhall Roundabout in front of Hart Park and ended at Orchard Village Road at Dalbey Drive. Its theme was “Celebrating America’s Independence the SCV Way Live, Work, Play!”
The grand marshals were husband-and-wife real estate agents Dennis and Pamela Verner.
Dennis Verner is also general manager of Burrtec Waste, which holds the exclusive contract for trash and recycling services in Santa Clarita, and a board member of the Santa Clarita Valley Chamber of Commerce and Santa Clarita Economic Development Corp.
Pamela Verner is also a member of the Board of Directors of the Santa Clarita Valley Boys and Girls Club and Circle of Hope.
Sierra Madre’s 4th of July Parade began at 10 a.m. at the corner of Sierra Madre Boulevard and Sunnyside Avenue, heading east to Sierra Vista Park.
The grand marshal was Laura Palmer, a lifelong resident of Sierra Madre who is a fourth-grade teacher at Sierra Madre Elementary School, a member of the Sierra Madre Library Board of Trustees and recording secretary of the Sierra Madre Community Foundation Board of Directors.
The grand marshal is traditionally a person or persons whose efforts over a long period have been beneficial to Sierra Madre.
The Sunland-Tujunga Independence Day parade also stepped off Tuesday morning with a flyover by a Los Angeles Police Department helicopter and a motorcycle drill team exhibition. The parade headed west on Foothill Boulevard from Summitrose Street to Sunland Boulevard. Its theme was “Sunland-Tujunga The Beautiful.”
The theme of Rosemead’s parade was “Celebrating Heroes in Our Community.” The parade along Valley Boulevard between Muscatel and Loma avenues began Tuesday morning and ended at Rosemead Park.
The Valley Village Homeowners Association Fourth of July Parade began at Colfax Elementary School and ended at Valley Village Park, where the association provided corn dogs, watermelon, cold drinks and cupcakes.
South Pasadena’s Fourth of July Festival of Balloons parade began around 11 a.m. at Mission Street and Diamond Avenue, ending in Garfield Park. The opening ceremony was held at the South Pasadena Library. The theme was “Red, White, and Blue — Bold Stripes, Bright Stars, and Brave Hearts Too.”
Westchester’s 23rd annual Fourth of July Parade was held beginning at 11 a.m. on Loyola Boulevard, heading north from Westchester Park to Loyola Marymount University. Its theme was “Ultimate Summer.” There were about 50 entries, with Los Angeles County lifeguards as the grand marshal.
The parade is Westchester’s largest event, according to the LAX Coastal Chamber of Commerce, which organizes the parade.
Avalon’s golf cart parade was scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. on Casino Way. Its theme is “A Green Island in a Blue Ocean — Creating a Sustainable Future for Avalon.” The USC Trojans Marching Band is among the participants.
San Gabriel’s 4th of July Parade started at 9 a.m. at Plaza Park, headed north on Mission Drive, then east on Broadway, concluding at Smith Park.
The Great American Kids’ Bike Parade began at 10 a.m. at 1 Granada Ave. on the beach bike path in Long Beach. Participants were asked to consider brining peanut butter or tuna that will be donated to area food banks.
The Holmby Westwood Property Owners Association 4th of July Parade began at 10 a.m. at Warner Avenue School, 615 Holmby Ave.