Plans are continuing to move forward for a July 5 “Hometown Parade” — as it is being dubbed by the La Cañada Flintridge Chamber of Commerce — and is seen as somewhat of a substitute for the annual Fiesta Days Parade, which is typically held on Memorial Day.
Traditionally, the LCF Chamber is the organizer and presenting sponsor of the Fiesta Days weekend celebration.
LCF Chamber President/CEO Pat Anderson recently announced that — for the second consecutive year — Fiesta Days has been canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic and resulting restrictions set by the Los Angeles County health department. In lieu of the time-honored festival, a citywide tradition since 1974, there will be a parade Monday, July 5, pending improving coronavirus case numbers throughout the County.
“All indications are looking good [to have] the parade,” Anderson told the Outlook Valley Sun. “We hope to have the green light from the state and L.A. County health department on June 15.
“It’s going to be a lot of fun. I think everybody is excited about the possibility of having a parade.”
With COVID-19 cases nationwide at their lowest point in more than a year — and with 16 states not reporting a single case during a 24-hour span earlier this week — restrictions are continuing to loosen. L.A. and Orange counties are now in the yellow tier.
“The decision to cancel Fiesta Days last year, and now, this year, was really taken out of our hands by the health department — all we could do was try to adhere to the orders,” Anderson said. “However, with the improving metrics, it seemed possible that we could at least hold a parade, and that seemed like something positive and hopeful to shoot for.”
While it was disappointing to cancel what would have marked the 48th annual citywide tradition, Anderson said, the Chamber’s Board of Directors reluctantly recognized that the County’s health restrictions for gatherings of large groups of people just could not accommodate the traditional Fiesta Days activities. Typically, those events span an entire weekend and include a casino night, French toast breakfast, car show, farmer’s market, outdoor movie night, barbecue, memorial service, a parade and a fireworks display.
Complicating matters, most of the chamber’s fundraising events for the celebration occur during February, which this year, also had to be put on hold due to the pandemic, Anderson added.
But a parade on July 5 seemed like a fun and practical substitute, she explained. The theme, Dare Mighty Things, was chosen at a chamber planning meeting. The parade’s grand marshal has been slotted to be NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, located in LCF, in recognition of its historic mission to Mars earlier this year.
The application deadline for organizations, businesses and individuals to participate in the July 5 Hometown Parade has been extended to June 15, Anderson said. Those interested should call the chamber at (818) 790-4289.
