Seventy-five parade entries go down Mission Drive on holiday; celebration, fireworks show held later at mission
The streets of Solvang were filled to overflowing with people from near and far anxious to take part in the 29th annual 4th of July Independence Day parade whose theme was “Life, Liberty, and Love.” The day was hot, but that did not deter the exuberant crowd from cheering the 75 entries that took part in this year’s parade.
The parade started promptly at 11 a.m. with Alan Satchwell playing the national anthem on his trumpet. The parade itself lasted for almost two hours as Master of Ceremonies Allan Jones, dressed as Uncle Sam, kept things flowing smoothly.
Leading it off was the Color Guard from the American Legion Post #160. They were followed by Andrew Wedel, Captain of Fire Station 30, The American Legion Flag Car, and the Solvang Rotary. This year’s Grand Marshal was World War II hero Jim Kunkle, who rode in a Jeep from the Flat Fender Friends. The Lucky Clover 4-H entry held 20 people waving to the crowds as they passed by, followed by a horse trolley containing members of the Solvang Senior Center.
Members of the VSFB Jets Gymnastics Team, cheerleaders from the Santa Ynez Valley Union High School, and members of the SYHS football team, both varsity and junior varsity were out in full force. The Santa Ynez Valley Woman of the Year, Judy Canby, was seated in in a Camaro convertible, while newly named Danish Maid Kaeley Reid rode in a 1958 Ford Fairlane Skyliner. Twenty Capuchin-Franciscan monks were next, walking with the San Lorenzo Seminary float followed by members of the Sons and Daughters of the American Revolution.
Representatives were in attendance from local schools, churches, businesses, senior groups, dignitaries, and dance studios, such as the Garcia Dance Studio, which had 60 of its colorfully dressed members dancing through the streets. There were equestrians from local riding groups on horseback, skateboarders doing jumping tricks, Charros of Santa Ynez riding their beautiful dancing horses, marching bands, drum lines and brass sections, rows of antique cars, Corvettes, Jeeps, and vintage automobiles, all of which made for a colorful and patriotic parade. Candy was tossed from the floats to the children watching the parade, Veggie Rescue passed out bags of mini carrots, and float participants doused the spectators with water from Super Soakers. There was only one slight mishap when a man riding a motorized bicycle miscalculated and landed, unharmed, on the ground.
The Rotary Club of Solvang, who sponsors the annual event, listed this year’s entry winners in numerous categories as follows:
The Sweepstakes winner this year was the Garcia Dance Studio; Best Use of Parade Theme: Flat Fender Friends; Most Patriotic: Sons of the American Revolution; Most Original: The New Generation Cowgirls; Most Amusing: Alisal Ranch, CJ Jackson; Most Unique: Solvang Skate Shop; Most Creative: Growing Minds Farm Education; Best Band: Salinas Charreria Western Wear; Best Singing Group: Flannel 101, Figueroa Mountain Brewing Co.; Best Family Group: California Tacos; Best Church Group: Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints; Best Senior Group: Atterdag Village; Best Animal Group: Rancho Los Pinos #1; Best Wagon Group: Berman and Imani Families; Best Wagon, Single: Ramon Becerra; Best Automobile Group: Vapor Trail Vettes; Best Automobile, Single: Dan Hoagland’s 1958 Ford Fairlane “Skyliner”; Best Automobile, Restored: Chevelle, driving Buellton Mayor Dave King; Best Automobile, Antique: The Hall family in Grandpa’s 1950 Ford Pickup; Best Automobile Antique Group: Santa Maria Model A’sFord Group; Best Fire Engine: Somerset Farm; Best Equestrian Group: Cuadras Unidas del Valle de Lompoc; Best Equestrian, Single: Red Bronco, Jim Vreeland Ford; Best Viking Ship: Vikings of Solvang; Best Color Guard: American Legion Post #160; Best Street Sweeper: SP Maintenance Services; Best Sport Group: SYHS varsity and JV football teams; Best Military Group: Grand Marshal Jim Kunkle and family; Best Walking Group: Friends of the Library; Best Dancing Group: Gymnastics North Lompoc; Most Energetic: Veggie Rescue; Best Group for a Cause: SYV Humane Society and DAWG; Best School Group: Santa Ynez High Cheerleaders; Best Youth Group: Lucky Clover 4-H; Best Audience Participation: Nielsen Building Materials; Best Dog: Driving Miss Daisy; Best Candy Thrower: Bethania Lutheran Church; Best Train: Somerset Farm; and Best Trumpeter: Alan Satchwell.
“Thank you to Chair Steve Palmer, Solvang Rotarians, Lt. [Mark] Valencia of Solvang Sheriff’s Office, and Candice Libera and staff at the City of Solvang for their efforts in making this another memorable event,” said Jones.
“All I can say is ‘Happy Birthday, America,’ the greatest country in the world,” said Bob Brown, a visitor from Los Angeles waving a flag.
The celebrating was far from over after the parade, as crowds moved over to Mission Santa Ines for the 4th of July Celebration and Fireworks Show, presented by the Santa Ynez Valley Rotary Club, that lasted from 12 p.m. through the fireworks show that started a little after 9 p.m.
Before sundown, the front lawn of the mission was packed with various food trucks and vendors, kids rides and activities, and a stage for live musical entertainment featuring the acts Paradise Kings, We Are Not Horses, and DJ Peete. On the grassy bluff east of the entrance, folks were staking out good spots for the nighttime show.
The event drew it’s typical huge crowd to the mission.
“I figure we’re drawing about 5,000 to 6,000 for this event,” said Scott Evans, SYV Rotary Club member and event coordinator. “I believe this is one of the biggest fireworks shows in the area, and we do it because we have the people who are willing to help out and put this on.”
Rotary Club member and former District Governor Deepa Willingham pointed out that the 4th of July Celebration is a big fundraiser for the organization.
“The money we make goes back into the Valley, particularly for our high school students to expose them to the cultures of other countries,” she said.
As nightfall hit, the fireworks, prepared and shot off by Keif Adler, were getting set. SYV Rotary Club President Scott Jones thanked the crowd for coming. After that, Hendrix Farriss and Cooper Haws led the crowd in the Pledge of Allegiance, and Georgey Taupin sang the national anthem, before the fireworks show commenced, putting a capper on another 4th of July holiday.
Mike Chaldu contributed to this story
