‘Happy Days in the Palisades’: Fourth of July Brings Annual Festivities

By LILY TINOCO | Assistant Editor

Palisadians gathered along the route for the 76th annual Fourth of July parade, a beloved community tradition presented by Palisades Americanism Parade Association.

This year’s parade led with a theme of “Happy Days in the Palisades,” which was entered into the parade theme contest by longtime Palisadians Dean Grinsfelder and Vicky Collison, and selected by PAPA.

“In a family brainstorming session, it was my wife, Vicky … who actually came up with the theme,” Grinsfelder said to the Palisadian-Post. “It was a simple quest to create a short rhyme, but it truly represents our family’s experience of living in the Palisades. We have so much appreciation for the people, beautiful environment and relaxed character of the town. Every day we spend in the Palisades is a happy day for us.”

Grinsfelder revealed this year marked the first time the family entered the contest. He has been living in the Highlands since 1989.

The parade, headed by Grand Marshal Steve Guttenberg and Parade Marshal Rich Wilken, featured a number of local organizations and familiar faces from around town. Thousands rallied along Via De La Paz, Sunset Boulevard and Toyopa Drive for the bevy of festivities.

Paws ’N Claws’ Patriotic Pups of Pacific Palisades marched the streets with red, white and blue bandanas and accessories, the girls and boys of Troop 223 waved hello from different boats turned into floats, followed by Pacific Palisades Woman’s Club, Optimist Club of Pacific Palisades, Palisades-Malibu YMCA, Los Angeles Fire Department Station 69, and plenty more. Parties and parade observers cheered as each float passed by.

Local environmental organization Resilient Palisades’ float commemorated its Clean Air and Water team’s campaign that helped local gardeners purchase electric blowers in place of gas blowers. The team shared messages promoting gas-free gardening and celebrating the Highlands Summit HOA for being “100% gas free.”

“At the parade, we marched alongside dozens of additional RP members, including our newest member, recording artist and producer Redfoo, who brought his solar-powered golf cart,” according to the organization. “A great time was had by all, and we’re confident we raised the awareness of thousands of parade attendees who otherwise might not have given a second thought to how their gardeners are maintaining their lawns.”

Other parade highlights included music from the Palisades Oom-Pa-Pa Band, Lake Arrowhead’s Mountain Fifes & Drums, and New Orleans Traditional Jazz Band, as well as demonstrations from Gerry Blanck’s School of Yoshukai Karate.

Community members shared some of their favorite moments with the Post, including the Palisades-Malibu YMCA float, which was adorned with greenery and bountiful hand-painted butterflies.