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“The Ol' Fashioned 4th of July Parade is a revered, time-honored institution in our community. Everyone loves it," said Palmer. “Every year locals come out in droves to get a prime viewing spot on Main Street. You can see how everyone appreciates its small town charm and tradition and the Beautification Committee is honored and privileged to help support and sustain it."

Half Moon Bay Beautification Committee Presents the 49th Ol' Fashioned 4th of July Parade & Block Party

Classic Small Town Spirit Shines Through at Half Moon Bay’s Independence Day Celebration

Revered Community Icon and Longtime Matriarch of Main Street Bev Ashcraft to Serve as Grand Dame Marshal

Let the good times roll! This year marking it’s 49th rendition, Half Moon Bay's beloved Ol' Fashioned 4th of July Parade and Block Party takes over Main Street, transforming the charming downtown into a pulsating Coastsider take on a mini-Mardi Gras style celebration.

Bev Ashcraft, this year's parade Grand Dame Marshal, pictured here with Gourdy, the Half Moon Bay Art & Pumpkin Festival mascot


American Legion members

The "Sitting Marching Band"

Beloved community icon, Matriarch of Main Street, longtime (now former) owner of Half Moon Bay institution Cunha’s Country Store and the only remaining founding member of the Pumpkin Festival, Bev Ashcraft, will serve as Grand Dame Marshal.

"No one has done more for the City of Half Moon Bay and particularly Main Street than Bev Ashcraft and no one is more loved," said Cameron Palmer, Parade Co-Chair. "Having Bev as our Grand Dame Marshall is the perfect marriage. Like Bev, the Ol' Fashioned 4th of July Parade is a revered, time-honored institution in our community that everyone cherishes. It’s an honor and privilege for us to celebrate Bev at this year’s parade as we gain steam to celebrate a half century of Pumpkin Festivals in 2020," said Palmer.

Starting at 12 noon, the delightful, home-spun parade, fronted by the San Mateo County Sheriffs and CalFire, celebrates classic small town American spirit with an entertaining array of whimsical floats, marching bands, community service groups, classically cool cars, decorated trikes and bikes, youth sports teams, dance and theatre troupes, a Color Guard by the American Legion, and local dignitaries and celebrities slowly winding their way through the crowded downtown along Main Street between Filbert and Mill Streets.

Honoring Half Moon Bay’s western heritage and always a parade highlight, there will be a large number of equine entries with prizes awarded in several categories.

Half Moon Bay’s famous, 40-member strong “Sitting Marching Band” will be in their usual perch at Main and Kelly playing an array of patriotic ballads during the parade.

For many locals, it’s one of their favorite events of the year.

But, like in many small towns across America in recent years, it almost went away. Facing increasing costs and a lack of funding and volunteer support, in 2014 parade organizers turned to the Half Moon Bay Beautification Committee organizer of the enormously successful Pumpkin Festival who then agreed to help underwrite and organize the treasured community celebration going forward.

The Ol' Fashioned 4th of July Parade Committee, co-chaired by Cameron Palmer and Roxy Stone, is now organized and operated as a sub-committee of the Beautification Committee. This arrangement brings financial stability and an organizational structure that will help sustain the parade for many years to come. “Every year locals come out in droves to get a prime viewing spot on Main Street. You can see how everyone appreciates its small town charm and tradition and the Beautification Committee is honored and privileged to help support and sustain it."

The Half Moon Bay Lions Club will be hosting its annual 4th of July Pancake Breakfast in the City Hall parking lot (501 Main Street), from 8am to 12 pm. “We’re deeply appreciative of the Lions Club longtime support of the parade festivities – they’re a major contributor to making it all possible,” said Palmer.

Adding to the festivities are the Red, White and Blue Community BBQ hosted by the Coastside Adult Day Health Center (City Hall parking lot, 12pm to 3pm), a Libations tent selling wine, beer, and mimosas hosted by the Chamber of Commerce (9am to 3pm), a kidzone with face painting and a petting zoo, and live music (Mac Dutra Plaza, 1:30pm to 3pm).

Those interested in participating can find parade entry forms at City Hall, Half Moon Bay Feed & Fuel and Cameron’s Inn or online below.

For information on the Half Moon Bay Beautification Committee, visit http://pumpkinfest.miramarevents.com/hmbbc-facts.html

Follow the Ol' Fashioned 4th of July Parade on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/HMB4thofJulyParade/