Archive » July 6, 2007

Revisit the Fourth of July Celebrations Around the Valley

By Leanne Elliot Cooper and Linda Valle of Valle Photography

Valley Celebrates Independence Day

The Solvang 4th of July parade commenced at 11am on Wednesday as crowds gathered to cheer dozens of clubs, organizations and businesses that followed the parade route from Mission Drive to 4th Street and onto Copenhagen Drive. This year’s theme was a salute to the now-disbanded Solvang Fire Department, whose volunteer firefighters were honored by dozens of fire trucks from fire stations in the surrounding area. However, The Fire Fighters were called out to tend to the Zaca Fire near Los Olivos at the start of the festivities.

The parade ended at the Santa Ynez Mission where the public enjoyed a carnival on the Mission’s front lawn, complete with food booths, dunk tank, games, slides and music

The parade ended at the Santa Ynez Mission where the public enjoyed a carnival on the Mission’s front lawn, complete with food booths, dunk tank, games, slides and music. Down the street at Solvang Park, the Solvang Rotary served a barbeque lunch and a live band played to sunbathing crowds. Fireworks sponsored by the Chumash, finished the evening at the Santa Ynez Mission