Fourth of July Parade Celebrates Diamond Anniversary

This Year’s Theme Was ‘Diamond Jubilee in 2023’

By SARAH SHMERLING | Editor-in-Chief

On the afternoon of the Fourth of July, chairs lined the streets of the Village area as residents, friends, family and visitors gathered to watch the 75th edition of the Palisades Parade, which began after members of the Adrenaline Nation skydiving team landed at Sunset Boulevard and Swarthmore Avenue at 2 p.m.

Named for the diamond anniversary of the Palisades Americanism Parade Association parade, this year’s theme was “Diamond Jubilee in 2023”—which kicked off with dozens of Kids on Bikes, who participated in the Best Decorated Bike/Scooter Contest, sponsored by the yogurt shoppe.

As in years past, the parade formation area was by Palisades Charter Elementary School near Bowdoin Street. The route began along Via De La Paz, turning right onto Sunset Boulevard to Drummond Street, then another right down to Toyopa Drive concluding near the Ralphs parking lot.

More than 50 participating groups, individuals and organizations made up the parade by riding in cars and on floats, walking, horseback riding, biking, and more.

Several groups used the time to give brief performances at stops along the route, including Taeryong Taekwondo School, Gerry Blanck’s Yoshukai Karate and Fancy Feet Dance Studio—which was part of the grand finale of the parade alongside Pacific Palisades Baseball Association World Series winners.

This year’s group of Patriotic Pups, sponsored by Paws ’N Claws, were joined by adoptable dogs. All participating pups, from golden retrievers to corgis, were wearing hints of red, white and blue, including bows, bandannas and more.

Kruse + Company circled around on electric bikes, displaying their products while also blowing bubbles into the crowd, and Jimmy Dunne, a founder of Veterans Gardens, led a group of bocce champions from a bike as well, while winners waved from classic convertibles and trucks.

Pacific Palisades Community Council—which is celebrating its 50th anniversary—marched in the parade, as well as Golden Sparkplug, Pride of the Palisades and Citizen of the Year award winners.

Peppered in throughout the lineup were several musical performances, including Lake Arrowhead-based Mountain Fifes & Drums, Oom PaPa Band, Pasadena Scots, and New Orleans Jazz Band.

Also producing music were the Palisades-Malibu YMCA float, which included members dancing along to the Village People’s hit “Y.M.C.A.,” and Resilient Palisades, whose float included a DJ alongside their messages encouraging attendees to go vegan with a larger-than-life alternative milk container and several movie posters.

Event sponsors, including Christine and Jordan Kaplan, Donald and Nancy de Brier, Flanagan Jones Group, American Legion, and Hart Built Construction, were honored on banners, which were carried by members of the Palisades Charter High School football team and area scouts.