4TH OF JULY PARADE
PARADE HISTORY
Early one morning in the winter of 1984, Dick Heggie, Bill Gross, and Bobbie Landers were sitting in the Orinda Association’s cramped office trying to think of a way to get local residents excited about Orinda becoming a city. With local residents dissatisfied with county services, the Orinda Association and several other local residents had begun thinking about incorporation. They needed to find a way to build excitement among locals – a way to bring the community together in a fun way while also educating people to the pros and cons of local city government.
As Landers thought back to the hot summers in her home town of Glen Ellyn, Illinois, she remembered how much she used to look forward to her town’s 4th of July parade, and why not bring that same sense of togetherness and pride to Orinda. Heggie and Gross concurred and Orinda’s 4th of July parade and celebration was born!
The festivities have continued to grow year after year with lots of fun activities for children from a Hot Wheels race to balloon animals to making things at the Home Depot booth. Adults also have plenty to make them smile with several great bands playing throughout the day and a plethora of great food and drinks to enjoy.