Palisadians Find Warm Welcome From Santa Monica Parade

By Laurel Busby

News & Information Editor

If you’re yearning for the traditional Pacific Palisades Fourth of July parade, a version of it will join the Santa Monica Parade at 9:30 a.m. on Friday.

At least thirteen Palisades groups will march, toot their horns, or wave from a car along Main St. between Pico Blvd. and Marine, where they’ll turn toward the ocean. As the Palisades contingent begins, Palisadian MCs Sam Lagana and Jimmy Dunne will take over announcements from the grandstand at Ocean Park Blvd., and they won’t release the mics until all thirteen have gone past in order.

The groups will begin their parade foray at about the tenth spot among more than 90 floats, bands, and marching groups, according to event organizer Jenny Rice.

Each year, Girl Scouts carry the banner to lead off the annual Santa Monica 4th of July Parade.

“We’re such a small town, and every other year after our parade in Santa Monica, people rushed to the Palisades to sit and watch their parade or be a part of it,” Rice said. “When the Palisades Fire happened, we already had such partnerships with them that this was a no brainer. It wasn’t even a question. They’re going to be in the parade.”

Parade participants include the Palisades American Legion Post 283, a regular sponsor of the annual Palisades parade, Tahitian Terrace, one of the mobile home parks that was destroyed, and the Palisades Recovery Coalition, a community-led initiative to aid the rebuilding effort.

Another fire recovery group, Pali Strong, which will be accompanied by City Councilwoman Traci Park, asks interested Palisadians to join them in representing the varied Palisades neighborhoods as they wave flags and blow horns and whistles. Sign-up information is available here.

Boca resident and the Canyon’s Palisades Community Council Member Sharon Kilbride will be driving Council President Sue Kohl and Citizen of the Year Cindi Young, while Kilbride’s neighbor Amy Hopper will drive the 2024 Sparkplugs Carlos Rodrigues and Leslie Campbell.

Since she was a baby riding in a stroller, Emma Eisenberg has joined the Oom PaPa band in the Palisades Fourth of July Parade. Photo: Marla Eisenberg

In addition, the expected 15,000 spectators will be entertained by previous Palisades parade regulars, including the Palisades YMCA, the Chabad of Pacific Palisades, and Resilient Palisades, which all decorated floats for past Palisades parades.

The Pacific Palisades Oom Pa Pa Band, now in its 51st year, will play crowd favorites like “Louie, Louie” as they march down the street, led by long-time drum major and music director Mark Eisenberg. Jeff Jarow, the Santa Monica Parade co-founder, who regularly marches in both the Santa Monica and Palisades parades, plans to march with them as his son, Morgan, plays the sousaphone.

The Palisades Cub Scouts will be marching alongside the Santa Monica Cub Scouts, while the Pacific Palisades Baseball Association (PPBA) will bring its World Series champions to the festivities.

In addition, the Palisades Forestry Committee and the Pacific Palisades Community United Methodist Church will be represented.

The parade, which is expected to end around 11:30 a.m., will also include about ten bands as well as U. S. Rep. Ted Lieu and Calif. Sen. Ben Allen.

More information is available at www.santamonicaparade.com.