What’s more than 100 years old but as peppy and spirited as ever
before? Plant yourself on the parade route the morning of July 4
and the enthusiasm of the community will be clear.
What’s more than 100 years old but as peppy and spirited as ever before? Plant yourself on the parade route the morning of July 4 and the enthusiasm of the community will be clear.
The anthems might sound the same. Old Glory hasn’t changed recently. And America’s red, white and blue will drench downtown as they do every year at this time.
Next Sunday, however, marks the only 116th Fourth of July parade that will ever traverse Morgan Hill. Independence Day Inc. loves its country and several new events will pen 2010’s celebration into the history books.
“Every year it seems to get larger,” IDI volunteer Stephanie Short said about the parade that touts itself as official parade of Santa Clara County. She is also the co-chair of the first family bike ride held the July 4 weekend.
“Cities don’t have funding to put on Fourth of July celebrations. We’ve been hearing one by one cities canceling and so there is no where to go and watch fireworks and enjoy the festivities,” she said.
Morgan Hill doesn’t pay for the biggest patriotic celebration in the Bay Area. The IDI does, raising every cent to support a weekend packed of free events.
Last year, the parade attracted 45,000 people – about 6,000 more than the total population of Morgan Hill. Short said she expects that number to be even greater.
For its 116th incarnation – and the marquee event – the 11 a.m. parade will feature about 250 entries including marching bands, floats and dancers.
But before the first float hits the pavement, the 2010 IDI festivities start today with the 14th annual Firecracker Classic Golf Tournament at Eagle Ridge Golf Club. The IDI awards prizes for the longest drive, closest to the pin, best score and most patriotic-dressed foursome.
New to the IDI’s lineup is a 6-, 13- and 30-mile recreational bike ride along Coyote Creek Trail July 3. The 30-mile ride starts at 8:30 a.m. All other rides start at 9 a.m.
A week of preparation will ensue before the 21st annual Patriotic Sing will launch the community into full-speed ahead patriotism at 6 p.m. July 3 in the Britton Auditorium.
About 115 children from around town will perform our nation’s most cherished songs.
Choir leader, Karen Crane, said while the songs are the same, the children are different and now 21 years since starting the Patriotic Sing second generation children will make new memories.
Since they began rehearsing several weeks ago, the children have been donating items for American troops overseas.
“Our kids sing for all the events. They will run over to the street dance, to the float in the parade, singing at the fireworks. We’re trying to make memories for our children about all the things they did when they were growing up in Morgan Hill,” Crane said.
Crane said the sing, held at 6 p.m. for one hour at Britton Middle School, is such a delight to the parents and also to audience members who are asked to sing along with the children’s choir.
“You can watch people and they know the songs. Somewhere along the way they learned it and that’s truly important to me,” Crane said.
The children will sing traditional American anthems such as “God Bless America” and “This Land is Your Land” and also the service songs of the Air Force, Navy, Marines and Army.
The Annual Street Dance kicks off at the conclusion of the Patriotic Sing at 7 p.m. The nearby venue of Britton to downtown is meant to encourage visitors to walk and not drive.
Music-lovers will find two stages in downtown this year. On Second Street, the regular street dance with a twist – patrons will be required to purchase a $2 alcohol bands to buy drinks from Guglielmo Winery, Martin Ranch Winery and Alaskan Brewing Co. – and on Third Street, a youth stage.
Children and teens will showcase their musical talent at 7:30 p.m. after Mayor Steve Tate dedicates the new IDI event.
The morning of July 4, an estimated 600 runners, joggers and walkers alike will enjoy either a 5,000 meter race or 1-mile jaunt around downtown in the Freedom 5-K run and 1-mile walk at 8 a.m. Organizers encourage participants to arrive early to register before the start gun fires for the run at 8:30 a.m.
Following a cool down and some breakfast, the pre-parade car cruise and entertainment will begin at 10:45 a.m. along the parade route, which starts on Monterey Road near Fourth Street and circles around Main, Peak and Dunne Avenues.
The official parade starts at 11 a.m.
After the parade, a classic car show – new to the IDI’s usual lineup – will kickoff at noon in the Wells Fargo parking lot on the corner of Monterey Road and Main Avenue.
Before you grab your seats for the fireworks show, live music and food will be sold starting at 4 p.m. in Community Park at 299 W. Edmundson Ave. Last year, the pre-fireworks entertainment began at 6 p.m. The IDI hopes the two-hour extension and food vendors will attract more visitors to stick around until the fireworks that can be seen from most spots in Morgan Hill.
Dennis Dal Poggetto, chair of the street dance, said IDI is always accepting volunteers for this year’s celebration or next year’s.
The Fourth of July parade is one of the oldest in the nation, dating back to 1894. Hundreds of volunteers dedicate months to planning the three days of free events.
