Anyone looking to take home a prize in this year’s Independence
Day Parade might want to consider attending an upcoming local
workshop conducted by a pair of renowned West Coast parade
producers.
Morgan Hill
Anyone looking to take home a prize in this year’s Independence Day Parade might want to consider attending an upcoming local workshop conducted by a pair of renowned West Coast parade producers.
The workshop, sponsored by the parade committee of Morgan Hill Independence Day, Inc., will take place 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. May 23, at the Centennial Recreation Center at 171 West Edmundson Avenue. Entry to the workshop is free.
Local Fourth of July parade participant Jeff Dixon said the two instructors, Dave Thomas and Ray Pulver, will share their store of knowledge about every aspect of parade performance, from float building and car decorations to costume design and march timing.
“It’s for anybody who has an entry in the parade who wants to spruce up their performance. It’s useful for people who have never done a parade, or done a thousand parades. It never hurts to hear from these guys,” said Dixon, who is president of the Morgan Hill Youth Sports Association. Dixon and the young athletes in the association have entered in previous Independence Day parades, and he continues to apply parade advice he has acquired from Thomas and Pulver in previous workshops.
Thomas has gained notoriety over the years as a creative and successful float builder and artist whose work has appeared in the biggest parades in the Bay Area. Pulver, the owner of Upbeat Parade Productions, is an event producer and consultant who has more than 25 years experience specializing in parades.
“They talk about being a performer and an entertainer, as opposed to just walking around like sticks,” Dixon said.
Dixon noted that the workshop is not only for participants in the upcoming Independence Day parade, but is open to anyone who plans to perform in any future parade, regardless of the theme or occasion.
Morgan Hill traditionally boasts the largest Independence Day parade in Santa Clara County, according to parade committee chair Maureen Hunt. Usually the number of entries in the parade exceeds 175, and sometimes reaches 200. Last year, about 50,000 spectators attended the downtown parade, Dixon said.
Two coveted major awards are handed out by a panel of independent judges each year. One of those is for best presentation of the annual theme, and one for the “judges’ favorite,” the grand sweepstakes award, Hunt said. The theme for this year’s parade, which travels around downtown Morgan Hill, is “Salute to America’s Heroes.”
IDI has sponsored several parade workshops leading up to the official event in recent years.
“Generally, attending the workshop increases your chances to win. Not every winner has attended the workshop but if you spend the time on the workshop you’re likely to win your category,” said Dixon, who has worked on parade entries that won after he attended a workshop.
The “early bird” deadline for entry to this year’s Independence Day parade is May 23. The final deadline is June 4. For more information and to download an application, visit the parade committee’s Web site at www.mhparade.com.
Meanwhile, the need for donations to help pay for other holiday festivities, including a fireworks display, is still present, according to IDI fundraising chair Rich Gamboa. He said the organization hopes to raise about $70,000 to pay for costs associated with the parade, fireworks, a “patriotic sing,” a street dance and concert, a downtown afternoon festival on the afternoon of the Fourth and other events.
So far they have raised about $15,000 for the upcoming celebration, but are behind their normal level of funds for this time of year, Gamboa said. The difficult economic situation has made fundraising difficult, particularly with strain on the city’s budget that has resulted in its inability to contribute funding as they have in recent years.
But Gamboa said with “very generous” donations contributed by business sponsors recently, and a mass mailer soliciting individual donations from local residents going out in the next few days, IDI is “cautiously optimistic” the fireworks will proceed as planned.
“It’s only through the ongoing support of businesses and individuals in the community that we are able to do this year after year,” Gamboa said. “But this year is a little more financially challenging.”
Independence Day Parade
May 23: Float building/parade presentation workshop; 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Centennial Recreation Center; 171 West Edmundson Ave., Morgan Hill.
May 24: End of “early bird” parade registration.
June 4: End of regular parade registration.
Details: Parade application forms can be downloaded from www.mhparade.com.
Morgan Hill Independence Day events
Friday, June 26: Firecracker Golf Classic, Eagle Ridge Golf Club in Gilroy. Registration begins at noon.
6 p.m. Friday, July 3: Patriotic Sing, Britton Middle School Gym, downtown Morgan Hill.
7 p.m. Friday, July 3: Annual street dance and live concert, downtown Morgan Hill.
7 a.m. to 10 a.m. Saturday, July 4: Patriotic Pancake Breakfast.
7:45 a.m. Saturday, July 4: Firecracker 5K run and one-mile kids’ race.
9 a.m. Saturday, July 4: Liberty parade cruise, downtown Morgan Hill.
10 a.m. Saturday, July 4: Independence Day Parade.
11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, July 4: Liberty car show.
5:30 p.m. Saturday, July 4: Pre-fireworks entertainment.
Dusk, Saturday, July 4: Fireworks.
