50th Half Moon Bay Ol' Fashioned 4th of July Parade & Festival

Half Moon Bay CA

14 June, 2021

12:49 AM

Description

50th Half Moon Bay Ol' Fashioned 4th of July Parade & Festival Classic Small Town Spirit Shines Through at Half Moon Bay's Independence Day Celebration Revered Community Icon and Longtime Matriarch of Main Street Bev Ashcraft to Serve as Grand Marshal 12pm Start Along Main Street Coastside Rising "So Happy Together"New Music-Driven Community Street Festival Bookending the Ol' Fashioned 4th Of July Parade Day11am to 4pm at Main & Kelly Thankfully, at long last for live events and communities everywhere and all they nourish by bringing people together with inspiration and joy, "the times, they are a-changin'" as the great Bob Dylan wrote and sang in his uniquely signature way. Half Moon Bay's Ol' Fashioned 4th of July Parade Committee announced this year's beloved parade is back on with plans to make an even bigger bang. "With the improving COVID conditions, rising vaccination rates and easing of restrictions, we have left no stone unturned in our due diligence with our planning to ensure everyone's health and safety to the fullest extent possible. We have the support of city officials and feel the time is right to bring back the parade for the Coastside community … plus this is the special 50th anniversary of the parade and we have a very special grand marshal to honor," said Cameron Palmer, 4th of July Parade Committee Co-Chairman along with Co-Chair Roxy Stone and event producer Tim Beeman, CEO of Miramar Events. "We're thrilled about the return of this timeless, much-loved community event," said Robert Brownstone, Mayor. "This will be a safe, fun, family-friendly celebration of not only independence day, but of our community's return to a more normal summer in Half Moon Bay." EVENT DETAILSWe're expanding the theme and scope of the Ol' Fashioned 4th of July Parade to also include a music-driven community street festival to bookend the parade – Coastside Rising "So Happy Together" celebrates and brings together the entire Coastside community with a healthy dose of uplifting positivity all tied together with the hope, momentum and optimism of the State Re-Opening comeback, with event promotion targeted to the Coastside. Coastside Rising "So Happy Together" runs from 11am to 4pm at Main and Kelly. Plans include a big music stage focal point and main attraction kicking off at 11am. SPARKLING ENTERTAINMENT The stellar band lineup on the immense and sparkling "Star Spangled" Concert Stage includes the Carmen Ratti Blues Band (11am). The Megatones (1pm), and Aja Vu (2:30pm). The bands will take a break during the parade, from 12pm to 1pm. FABULOUSLY FESTIVE FOOD AND DELECTABLY DELICIOUS DRINKAdditional highlights include "Land of the Free" (But You Pay) Libations Lane with craft beer, wine, cocktails and beverages galore plus "Stars & Stripes" Mobile Eats Alley with festive food trucks dishing up great grub. TONS OF FUN FOR KIDSThe "Bright Stars" Kidz Fab Funzone will feature a bungee jump, cornhole and tons of fun for the kiddos. Plus additional surprises in the works to be announced. We're designing this celebration with a big event feel and flourish and plan to make it an extra special day to remember. SPECTACULAR SPONSORS AND SUPPORTERSCameron's Inn & Pub, Miramar Events, Granola's, Premier Termite, Ocean Blue Real Estate, Half Moon Bay Winery, Joe Cotchett Family, Half Moon Bay Review, Coastside News Group, City of Half Moon Bay, American Portables, KHMB Radio, NorCal Sound, Michael John Ahern Presents, Bliss Point Productions, Good Old Fashion Fun, Half Moon Bay Lions Club, Roxy Stone. More to be announced in the coming days. PARADE DETAILSTo honor and celebrate her 90th birthday, beloved community icon, Matriarch of Main Street, longtime (now former) owner of Half Moon Bay institution Cunha's Country Store and the only remaining founding member of the Pumpkin Festival, Bev Ashcraft, will serve as Grand Marshal of the Ol' Fashioned 4th of July Parade. "No one has done more for the City of Half Moon Bay and particularly Main Street than Bev Ashcraft and no one is more loved," said Cameron Palmer, Parade Co-Chair. "Having Bev as our Grand Marshall is the perfect marriage. Like Bev, the Ol' Fashioned 4th of July Parade is a revered, time-honored institution in our community that everyone cherishes. It's an honor and privilege for us to celebrate Bev at this year's parade as we celebrate an extra special day of our community gathered "so Happy Together"," said Palmer. Starting at 12 noon, the delightful, home-spun parade, fronted by the San Mateo County Sheriffs and CalFire, celebrates classic small town American spirit with an entertaining array of whimsical floats, marching bands, community service groups, classically cool cars, decorated trikes and bikes, parading pooches, youth sports teams, dance and theatre troupes, a Color Guard by the American Legion, and local dignitaries and celebrities slowly winding their way through the crowded downtown along Main Street between Filbert and Mill Streets. Honoring Half Moon Bay's western heritage and always a parade highlight, there will be a large number of equine entries with prizes awarded in several categories. For many locals, it's one of their favorite events of the year. The parade starts at 12pm, transforming the charming downtown along Main Street into a pulsating Coastsider take on a mini-Mardi Gras style celebration. There will be no judging of parade entries this year; simply a celebration of community. PARADE REGISTRATIONThose interested in participating can find parade entry forms at City Hall, Half Moon Bay Feed & Fuel and Cameron's Inn or online in the coming days. Parade entry forms and event details are available on the event website https://miramarevents.com/4th-of-july-parade HEALTH AND SAFETY GUIDELINES The event will be held in accordance with State, County and City Health and Safety guidelines. Health guidelines strongly recommend that attendees be fully vaccinated. If not fully vaccinated, guidelines strongly recommend that attendees obtain a negative COVID-19 test prior to attending the event and wear a face covering at the event. DATES/HOURS/LOCATION:The parade starts at 12 noon and ends around 1pm and goes down Main Street from Filbert to Mill. The festival starts at 11am and goes until 4pm at Main and Kelly. GET DETAILS:WEBSITE https://www.miramarevents.com/4th-of-july-paradeFACEBOOK https://www.facebook.com/HMB4thofJulyParade/INSTAGRAM https://www.instagram.com/miramarcrew/