A nearly two-decade patriotic tradition returns to Main Street this Thursday, also known as Independence Day throughout the United States. To celebrate, the Ocean Park Association’s annual 4th of July Parade will begin at 9:30 a.m., featuring a host of floats and live music for the red, white and blue festivities.
Beginning 18 years ago, the Parade is the baby of organizer Jeff Jarow, who has called Santa Monica home for over 40 years. Stifled only by a two-year break during the COVID-19 pandemic, the tradition has "built up momentum ever since" its beginnings as an Ocean Park Association project.
"It was pretty small back then, and every year it builds and builds," Jarow added. "We have good sponsors, it’s co-sponsored by the City, so it makes it a nice (partnership). It’s the largest, all-inclusive, free event for the city."
Indeed all spectators will take in the event without cost, while those who create floats for the parade enter for a small fee. Beginning with service groups like Rotary Club of Santa Monica and Kiwanis Club of Santa Monica, the parade has expanded over the years to include a bevy of organizations. This year’s event will have all of the city’s neighborhood associations involved alongside groups like Swim With Heart, Climate Action Santa Monica and Daughters of the American Revolution.
Whichever groups participate each year, Jarow stresses that this is "not the venue" for political messaging due to the all-ages approach to holiday fun. The float makers take this message to heart, showing their national pride throughout the morning.
"It’s all based on the energy of those entities willing to take on the responsibility," Jarow said. "It’s not the end of the world, but you get people to march, you want to make sure they’re all dressed up in red, white and blue. You want to make sure it’s a festive occasion."
The occasion will also have a local focus through two distinguished guests. This year’s Parade Grand Marshal is Judy Abdo, who served as Santa Monica’s mayor for three years and as a City Council member from 1988 to 1996. Abdo’s community involvements also include working as Director of Child Development Services for the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District, and as a founder of the Santa Monica Pier Restoration Corp. (now Santa Monica Pier Corporation).
Also making the trip back to his home for the holiday is "Mr. Santa Monica" himself, Nat Trives. The city’s first African-American mayor, Trives will be present after recently receiving a massive commendation. In May, Trives was presented with the Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award by Marquis Who’s Who, a publisher of biographical profiles.
Trives received the award for his decades of achievements in the worlds of law enforcement, government and community organizing.
"Though hard work and dedication have brought him far in his career, he credits his success to his desire to positively impact others and his empathy and compassion," Marquis Who’s Who stated. "Looking ahead, Mr. Trives aims to leave a legacy for his children and the youth in his community."
The 2024 parade kicks off at Pico Blvd. and Main Street, traveling south on Main Street before turning right onto Marine and ending at Barnard Way. The entire parade route and some adjacent streets will be closed to vehicle traffic from 6 a.m. to 12 p.m.
