Main Street Hosts Annual Independence Day Parade in Santa Monica

It is surprising that in liberal Santa Monica, a big Independence day parade is an annual tradition. This years event did not disappoint, and attracted 30,000 viewers and several meter maids giving tickets to illegally parked vehicles.

The 12th annual Fourth of July Parade went down Main Street on Wednesday morning, July 4, 2018. Starting off at Pico and Main, thousands gathered to march, ride and perform.

Spectators were encouraged to walk, ride bikes, scooters, and other forms of unique transportation to come down to Main Street.

The 1.5-mile route from Santa Monica Civic Center at 1855 Main Street south towards Venice, turning west on Marine Street and then north on Bernard Way before ending just short of Ocean Park Blvd.

Pico, Bay, Bicknell, Pacific, Strand, Hollister, Ocean Park, Hill, Ashland, Pier and Marine between Fourth and Neilson Way 8 am to 12pm

The parade theme is also reflected in this year's diversity of its participants including local historian, "Mr. Ocean Park History" Richard Orton.

Riley Gerlach, a 4th grader at Roosevelt Elementary who won the 2018 Miss Amazing California Pageant and was crowned the "Pre-Teen Queen", will be there.

Other participants include State Senator and born-and-raised Santa Monican Ben Allen; former Mayors including Judy Abdo, Assemblymember Richard Bloom, Ruth Goldway, Paul Rosenstein, Nat Trives and Denny Zane.

This year's theme "Bringing Communities Together", celebrated diversity. Yawn.