Why settle for a lonely hot dog and a rerun of New York’s fireworks display on TV when there’s a parade and all-day festival on the Plaza?
The Sonoma Community Center marks its centennial this year, and the center’s annual Fourth of July Parade is themed around the organization’s 100-year-old building.
So look for a lot of references to the number 100, says SCC director Toni Castrone.
“We’ve asked the floats to incorporate a centennial theme, and the Grand Marshal of the parade is Mark Andrews, the grandson of the founder of the center,” says Castrone, who expects nearly 10,000 people to attend the day’s festivities.
The parade, which starts at 10 a.m. at the Mission San Francisco Solano, will go around the Plaza, along First East Street before turning down Napa Street and going up First Street West.
“The parade is all-inclusive, and if you want to join, just come down before it starts and sign a form,” says Mary Catherine Cutcliffe, events coordinator for the parade.
Ever water-conscious in these dry times, parade officials are foregoing the popular “splash zone” where the parade climaxes in a flurry of water sprayed from an antique fire truck. When the drought finally abates, Cutcliffe, says she’d like to bring the “splash zone” back for future parades.
“We’re not allowing people on the floats to throw anything to the crowd. This includes water balloons and candy,” Cutcliffe says. “If they do have something to give out, float-goers will go to the edge of the parade and hand them out.”
After the parade runs its course, booths around the Plaza will open up and live music and award ceremonies for the parade will continue until 5 p.m. No open containers are allowed on the sidewalks and streets along the parade route, but alcoholic beverages are permitted on the grassy sides within the Plaza.
The Sonoma Police Department is enforcing a no-setup rule prior to July 4. Chairs and blankets will be allowed on the Plaza starting at 6 a.m.
Police will also close off the Plaza streets to traffic starting at 8 a.m. Any cars parked along the parade route after 8:30 will be towed at the owner’s expense. The Sonoma Bicycle Coalition is reopening its bike valet service at Depot Park from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Finishing off the holiday is the Sonoma Valley Fire and Rescue Authority’s fireworks exhibition near the Vallejo Home on Third Street West.
“We go all out on this event,” said Fire Marshal Alan Jones. “And (Sonoma Valley Fire) will be on-site the entire night to make sure people are safe when they’re celebrating.”
The mortar area, where fireworks are launched, will have an 800-foot fallout zone, where people are prohibited from setting up. “That fallout zone is for their own safety,” said firefighter Joe Boldt. “We don’t want anyone to get hurt by being too close.”
Boldt and his crew will start the setup for their display Friday at 4 a.m. They don’t leave until 3 p.m. on Saturday. “We have to run some tests to make sure everything works the way it should,” he said. “We won’t leave until we’re sure.”
Sonoma Valley Fire also cuts down vegetation around the launch site and waters the ground prior to starting to reduce the fire risk. Boldt said they plan to start the show around 9 p.m. and it will be 30 to 45 minutes in length.
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