“It ought to be solemnized with Pomp and Parade, with Shews,
Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires and Illuminations.” With these
words, writing to his wife Abigail on July 3, 1776, John Adams set
the tone for all future Independence Day celebrations. Morgan Hill,
celebrating for 109 of those 227
years, excels in the pomp, parade and illuminations categories
and is no slouch on the others.
“It ought to be solemnized with Pomp and Parade, with Shews, Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires and Illuminations.”
With these words, writing to his wife Abigail on July 3, 1776, John Adams set the tone for all future Independence Day celebrations.
Morgan Hill, celebrating for 109 of those 227 years, excels in the pomp, parade and illuminations categories and is no slouch on the others.
Long-time residents are familiar with the two-day extravaganza with which Morgan Hill remembers the revolutionary struggle and acknowledges the meaning of freedom. People new to town may not, so a wrap up is in order.
It is helpful to know first that, while the City of Morgan Hill helps by co-sponsoring the events, it is Independence Day, Inc., a group of dedicated local volunteers, that is actually responsible for planning, gathering funds, corralling dozens of day volunteers and making it all happen.
Always starting on July 3, (6 p.m.) music teacher Karen Crane shepherds her 200 well-rehearsed school children into the Britton gym for an hour of patriotic singing, essay reading, and a touching slide show of amber waves of grain and majestic mountains. Veterans and the serving military personnel are asked to stand and the crowd’s reaction is usually gratifying.
The children will sing old favorites, with You’re a Grand Old Flag, This Is My Country, the Armed Forces Medley and Let There Be Peace On Earth among a long list of sprightly and emotional tunes. Student Catherine Connor solos.
Following the sing, the gym empties into the downtown where Monterey Road is closed between Main and Dunne avenues, allowing for the Old-Fashioned Street Dance (7-10:30 p.m.). The Dadz will play their classic rock, branching out at bit upon request.
Dinner will be provided by several local restaurants including Rosy’s at the Beach, Mansmith Barbecue, El Toro Taqueria, House of Siam, My Pizza, Marie Callenders and Scooters Ice Cream. The restaurants that cluster downtown will also be open for business.
Friday, July 4 will dawn bright and – one hopes – reasonably cool. Starting the day off is the 7th Annual 5k (5000 meter) race/walk with an 8 a.m. start at P.A. Walsh School, 350 W. Main Ave. Day registration packets will be available on site starting at 6:45 a.m. Details or to register: www.mhidi.com or call Charles at 779-6686. Costumes are encouraged and will be appropriately razzed. The first prize is a chance to ride in style in the parade.
Hunger can be assuaged with a pancake breakfast inside P.A. Walsh School until 10 a.m.
While a couple of hundred runners are breaking sweat during the race, thousands more are lining Monterey, Main, Peak and West Dunne avenues, waiting for the greatest of parades to begin. Precisely at 10 a.m., as it has since 1894, the first unit steps off, this year including 11 bands and innumerable floats, horse parades, clowns and fancy cars.
Mayor Pietro Roselli of Morgan Hill’s Italian Sister City, San Casciano, will ride with his family and see an American July Fourth up close. 104-year-old veteran of both world wars, George Lewis, is the official Grand Marshal.
After the parade the activity moves south to Community Park, off Edmundson Avenue, west of Monterey Road.
The Family Fun Festival in the Park (11 a.m.-7 p.m.) is designed to occupy kids and adults alike, with rides, food and drink from local restaurants, wineries and breweries and more live music all afternoon. Arts and crafts fans will find an area to keep them busy.
Musical attractions included The Canyon Crew, a local country rock band and rock and roll to make you dance by Fast Lane Band followed by alternative rock by Epoch and SongQuest.
For the first time ever all rides in the Kids Zone are free. In the past, IDI used ticket sales to help defray the $80,000 cost of the celebration. However, because the need to buy a ticket has always shut out some children, three local men – Hamdey AlTayyeb, Bruce Tichinin and Alex Kennett – will underwrite the rides. This year’s Kids Zone aims to entertain kids of all ages with a bounce house, a giant slide, rock ‘em – sock ‘em, tunnel maze, spin art and the ever-popular water wars and rock climbing wall.
• A $10,000 show of fireworks begins at dark but first, after the festival folds its tents, The Usual Suspects take the stage to play the night away. Patriotic Singers (from the Britton sing) will reprise some of their favorites. Food booths will remain open. Bring chairs or a blanket, join your neighbors, and enjoy the benefits of small town life.
• Parking close-in – at the lot between the park and Monterey Road – will cost $10 and will help with that $120,000 in expenses. However, each $10 comes with a “goodie bag” full of pens, coffee mugs, tote bags – a big bag full of stuff including a gift certificate worth $12.95 at My Pizza, in the old Nob Hill Shopping Center on West Main Avenue. Courtesy of Thomas Kinkade’s Media Arts, the bag will also include a small battery-operated lighthouse statue, valued at $55.
• Patriotic Essay contest winners answered the question: What does the land of the free and home of the brave mean to you? The winners were: Hallie Kiernan, 6th grade, P.A. Walsh; Han Do, 6th grade, Carden Academy; Natalie Parry, 4th grade Nordstrom School; Nina Usuki, 2nd grade Nordstrom School; Emily Borchers, 3rd grade El Toro School; Brittany Shores, 3rd grade, Charter School of Morgan Hill.
Pick up a complete event program, complete with historic pictures, in magazine form at BookSmart, 17415 Monterey Road at West Second Street, the Chamber of Commerce, 17450 Monterey Road (next to The Granada Theater), The Music Tree, The Morgan Hill Times, 30 East Third St. and during the Sing, the Street Dance and Family Festival at tables selling the official 2003 IDI T-shirts, sweatshirts (designed by eighth grader Stefania Mercante) and other patriotic merchandise.
The program also includes information about entering the 2004 T-shirt design contest, for junior and senior high school students who live or go to school within the Morgan Hill School District boundaries.
Details: www.mhidi.com or by calling 779-3387. Volunteers and money are still needed.
