Pasadena company commissioned to build 34-foot-long
centerpiece
Morgan Hill – Planning Morgan Hill’s gigantic Fourth of July party is no day in the park, but one of the best floats in the parade this year looks like one.
Pinnacle Bank of Morgan Hill has commissioned award-winning Fiesta Parade Floats of Pasadena to recreate a “day in the park” on wheels. Apparently, the Fiesta folks delivered wonderfully. Then again, the company’s won prize after prize in the Tournament of Roses parade.
“It is really going to be cool,” said Maureen Hunt, one of Morgan Hill’s many Fourth of July organizers. “It looks like an hourglass … and in the back there’s a gazebo with trees. It’s a ‘family day in the park’ type of thing.”
Hunt described the snazzy float as “self-propelled,” and mentioned real-life barbecues completing the picnic-y effect. Fiesta Parade Floats President Tim Estes said the float is 34 feet long, 12 feet wide and 14 feet tall.
The floating “cookout” is scheduled to feature Morgan Hill Mayor Dennis Kennedy accompanied by an unspecified brigade of local dignitaries and guests.
“It’s a look at things to come,” said parade organizer Alex Kennett. “It is still in keeping with the small town feel, but really state of the art.”
Independence Day, Inc. is an all-volunteer nonprofit organization sponsored by local businesses, private individuals and the City of Morgan Hill. The group is spending about $100,000 this year on Independence Day events spanning three days.
The prestigious yearly celebration has taken on a life of its own, consistently drawing thousands of people from all over the Bay Area – and beyond – to a gala celebration that mirrors the heart and soul of Morgan Hill. This year is the 112th community-wide celebration of the nation’s birthday.
“It’s important because it’s 12 years older than the community,” Kennett said, alluding to Morgan Hill’s centennial status this year. “It’s always been a reflection of the community. We’ve kept it purposely a small-town parade. You don’t see an AT&T float, you see the local bank float. You also can see ‘little Johnny Jones’ on his tricycle. It’s a community parade – a reflection of the community.”
“The people in this parade cheer, clap, call out to their friends in the parade,” said Bob Hunt, Maureen’s husband and fellow parade organizer and volunteer for three decades. “It’s a feeling I haven’t seen in any other parade I’ve ever attended. I saw that July 4, 1970, and it blew my mind. I said, ‘I got to be part of this.’ ”
This year’s parade includes about 2,500 participants. For the first time ever, a “car show” will cruise the parade route, featuring pre-1976 autos. Professional equestrian groups will also appear, along with the usual collection of high school marching bands and a seemingly infinite list of community groups. The parade starts at 10am July 4 at Monterey Road and Fourth Street and is expected to last about an hour-and-a-half. The route curls around Main, Peak and Dunne avenues and ends back downtown at Monterey Road and Fifth Street.
An after party is planned from 11:30am-2:30pm at Monterey Road and Second Street. Pre-fireworks entertainment begins at Community Park at 6pm. Vendors will sell food, beverages, T-shirts and other souvenirs. A $15,000 professional fireworks show follows at sundown.
Other Fourth of July festivities include the Fire Cracker Golf Classic at Coyote Creek Golf Club on June 30, and the yearly Patriotic Sing, a concert of elementary students, at Britton Middle School on July 3.
The annual street dance and live concert follows the Patriotic Sing at 7pm in downtown Morgan Hill, featuring blues master Dave Barrett and rock ‘n’ roll band the Dadz.
Tony Burchyns covers Morgan Hill for The Times. Reach him at (408) 779-4106 ex. 201 or tb*******@mo*************.com
