PAPA Intends to Celebrate Fourth of July in 2025

By SARAH SHMERLING | Editor-in-Chief

Aiming to continue a beloved tradition with decades of history in town, Palisades Americanism Parade Association reported the organization intends to have a celebration on July 4 this year in Pacific Palisades.

“Like you, we have been devastated by the Palisades wildfire that, with little warning, mercilessly took from us our homes, schools, places of worship, businesses and our entire town,” Matthew Rodman and Daphne Gronich wrote in a statement on behalf of PAPA on February 3 that has been shared with the community. “What the fire could not take from us are our memories and our perseverance to carry on. One of those important community underpinnings is a day that many of us believe to be the best day in the Palisades: July 4th.”

For more than 75 years, the Fourth of July Parade has been a “long-standing and loved” tradition in the community. The festivities were later expanded when the parade was joined by the Palisades Will Rogers 5 & 10K Run in the morning, then music and fireworks in the evening.

“It is with incredible pride that Palisades 4th is pleased to announce our intention to have a celebration for our community this July 4th, 2025,” the letter continued. “While there are many more details to come in the months ahead, rest assured that we will do our part to stand with our neighbors, partners and friends to bring back our community.”

PAPA reported the organization has the support of elected and appointed officials, who will “do everything they can to support” the celebration. As plans become finalized, PAPA will “call upon our past volunteers and ask for new ones” to assist with the festivities, as they “endeavor to provide a day for Palisadians to gather, greet, reminisce and celebrate the independence of our nation, and the strength of our community.”

City of Los Angeles Chief Recovery Officer Steve Soboroff, when speaking on a walking tour between Palisades Recreation Center and the Ralphs parking lot on Monday, January 27, said that he would welcome Fourth of July traditions, if conditions allowed.

“The Pacific Palisades has been an incredibly special place for all of us to raise families and live our lives, and we know that it will be again,” PAPA’s letter said.