Angelique Flores
Some things have changed since it started in the early 1900s, but for the
most part, the Huntington Beach Fourth of July Parade is the same as it
ever was. Touted as the largest Fourth of July parade west of the
Mississippi, the parade will once again march through Main Street on
Tuesday with a kaleidoscopic whirl of floats, celebrities and horses --
but no buggies.
"Over the past 96 years, the parade has remained the same," said Maureen
Rivers, the Fourth of July parade chairwoman. "It's still a hometown
parade like it was when you were a kid."Of course, the amount of people
and the number and sizes of the floats have all grown, said Patricia
Stier, who chair's the Fourth of July executive board. More than 300,000
spectators are expected to line up along the three-mile route to watch
the parade.
This year, the 96th annual parade is "Celebrating the Century" with
tributes to the past, present and future.
Bobbi Hawkins, Miss Huntington Beach 1941, will appear with Miss
Huntington Beach 2000, Katie May Plummer. Pearl Harbor survivors and
other war veterans will travel down the parade route between current
Naval Sea Cadet troops. A World War II veteran from Long Beach plans to
ride in a military vehicle painted the same color it was when he landed
on Omaha Beach.
Parade floats will try to span the century, as well. Boeing's elaborate
float will include representations of its rockets, along with crafts from
throughout the century, Boeing spokesman Perry Cain said.
Residents along the parade route are expected to decorate their houses
along a Fourth of July theme. The homes between Acacia Avenue and 17th
Street on Main Street will compete for the Home Decoration Winner's
Trophy in the second annual contest, organizers said.
"People will be putting up arch balloons, statues, flags... anything in
red, white and blue," Stier said.
The displays -- which Stier said have become quite popular -- are kept
secret until about noon Monday, right before the judging at 3 p.m.
The parade, which will begin at 10 a.m., will feature 350 parade entries,
including television and film personalities, sports, military, civic and
celebrity grand marshals, marching bands and equestrian units.
"Every float will have patriotic music, more balloons and a surprise at
the end of the parade," Stier said.
Among the celebrities to appear are the Red and the Pink Power Rangers;
Mackenzie Westmore, who plays Sheridan Crane on "Passions"; Dennis
Haskins, best known for his role as Principal Richard Belding on "Saved
