It's almost Independence Day, so strike up the band! This year's Fourth of July parade in Orinda will offer something new: The Blue Devils C Drum and Bugle Corps, along with four other marching bands, will be part of the festivities. The parade will feature bands such as MJ's Brass Boppers, the Mariachi Trio, the Lamorinda Pick-up Marching Band, and the Saint Gabriel Celestial Brass Band. Local veterans will lead the fun and colorful parade, which starts at 10 a.m. from the east BART parking lot, while volunteers from local organizations, community members, little tykes, students from local schools, and staff from local businesses will show off their love of country and Lamorinda while they walk along the parade route or ride on creatively decorated floats.
"This year we have made a big effort to decorate Orinda," says Orinda Association President Bill Waterman. "People will notice, for example, the multi-colored balloon arches that will be installed in town." There will be plenty of kids' activities to go along with the festive atmosphere as well as great music after the parade, with food until 2 p.m. in the Orinda Community Park and until 7 p.m. at the Commons before the fireworks begin in Moraga at around 9:30 p.m.
Patriotic ceremonies begin at 7:55 a.m. with a flag-raising ceremony in Orinda at the flagpole in front of Community Center, and the singing of "The Star Spangled Banner" will begin at 6:45 p.m. in Moraga at the Commons Bandshell. "The young woman who will sing the national anthem is quite remarkable," says Moraga resident Dick Olsen. "Young Musicians Choral Orchestra's Marisol De Anda just won the top prize as the best voice among all the high school students in the San Francisco Bay Region during the Beach Blanket Babylon Scholarship Competition."
Those interested in running (or walking) for a cause will start the day early at 8 a.m. with Haley's 4th of July Run for A Reason in Orinda, and the Moraga Fourth of July run at 8:30 a.m. to support the Campolindo track team. Orinda's run supports the Sudden Unexplained Death in Childhood program, and honors Haley, who passed away unexpectedly in her sleep on May 15, 2000 at the age of 21 months. Runners wanting to participate in the Orinda 5-mile run and 2-mile family walk should register starting at 7 a.m. in the plaza in front of Orinda's Community Center and Library. Pre-registration for the Moraga run is being done online at campotrack.com. Same day registration is available for an additional cost.
"There are a lot of activities for all ages in Orinda and Moraga on the Fourth and we invite our neighbors from Lafayette to join us," says Waterman. For a detailed list of scheduled events, visit orindaassociation.org and Moraga.ca.us.
Moraga activity schedule:
Moraga Shopping Center
8 a.m. - Kiddie Runs
Commons Park
8 a.m. - Pancake Breakfast
8:30 a.m. - 5-mile run and 2-mile run/walk
9 a.m. - Dog Parade
9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. - Community booths and Car Show
10:30 a.m. - Children's Bike Parade
11 a.m. to 8 p.m. - Food and kids activities: jumpies, old fashion kids' games, magic show
7 p.m. - Busta Groove dance music
9:30 p.m. (ish) - Fireworks seen from the Commons and the Moraga Country Club
Orinda activity schedule:
7 a.m. - Registration for the Haley's 4th of July Run for A Reason
7:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. - Pancake Breakfast in Orinda Community Park
8 a.m. - 5-Mile Run/2-Mile Family Walk
10 a.m. - Fourth of July Grand Parade in downtown Orinda begins (For a detailed map of the parade route, go to http://orindaassociation.org/parade-info)
11 a.m. to 2 p.m. - Live music, food and kids activities, jumpies, face painting and more in the Orinda Community Park
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Lamorinda Weekly, Moraga CA