4th of July logistics already going into place in many cities where thousands will gather
John Palminteri
SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – A large sand berm is being built up on the Santa Barbara West Beach section where the 4th of July fireworks show will be held.
The annual show will draw over 20,000 people to that immediate site of the waterfront and over 100,000 from East Beach to Shoreline Park and surrounding neighborhoods.
The sky will light up after a day of music on the West Beach stage featuring local musicians playing patriotic music, rock ‘n roll and crowd favorites. The show is free and funded by local sponsors.
The fireworks display is paid for by the City of Santa Barbara Waterfront Department and coordinated by many city departments including the Parks and Recreation Department, the PARC Foundation and Public Works.
Betsy Weber recalls last year. “We’ve never seen a beach front as spectacular for sure!” She said ” it was festive and fun and crowded and joyful it was wonderful!” Her husband would rather be away from the area saying “it is closer to the fridge!” at home.
The public will see many areas changing this week in time for celebrations and gatherings around the Central Coast for the 4th of July festivities.
No parking signs will be going up on Cabrillo Boulevard to clear out specific areas for vendors and roll off dumpsters. There will be a designated area for the Land Shark touring vehicle that will remain in place.
A patriotic look is going up on Stearns Wharf with flags and bunting. American flags will also be up on State Street in the downtown area.
The public often looks to secure prime viewing spots on Leadbetter Beach and Chase Palm Park prior to the fireworks shows. That includes the picnic areas and open spaces on the grass. Tents, pop-ups and cooking sites will be full.
The area will be closely patrolled by Santa Barbara Police, the Harbor Patrol, Park Rangers and Santa Barbara City Fire.
Some will be closer to their neighborhoods and hang with friends there. “I think I am just going to stay home and be with family and stay off the beaches,” said Alicia James a recent high school graduate. “That’s how I grew up being with family and spending time with them. It just means a lot to me ya know?”
Lucia Metcalfe says will be using peddle power. “I would say biking is the best way if you can park kind of far away and you don’t have to deal with parking or traffic.”
Montecito is getting set for its parade from Upper Manning Park to Lower Manning Park on the 4th of July. It starts at 11:30 a.m. and is put on by the Montecito Association.
Earlier in the morning there will be a pancake breakfast at the main Montecito Fire Station. “Pancake breakfast with the fire department is always my favorite, I went to cold spring school and we knew all the firefighters at the Montecito Fire department,” said Metcalfe.
Butterfly beach is one area where a ban on bonfires is being enforced.
No fireworks are allowed other than authorized shows.
That includes safe and sane fireworks. They can only be used in the cities where they are sold including Fillmore, Santa Maria, Lompoc, and Guadalupe.
The ban on fireworks of any type will be in place in Carpinteria, Summerland, Montecito, Santa Barbara, Goleta and the Los Padres National Forest.
Goleta will have an alternative to a fireworks sky show. It will have a drone show at Dos Pueblos High School with the gates opening at 6 and the show at dusk.
The Santa Barbara County Courthouse Sunken Gardens will have the Primetime Band with patriotic music and sing-a-longs at 5 p.m.
There will be street closures on some sections of Cabrillo Boulevard on the waterfront at 6 p.m. and Stearns Wharf will not allow cars, just people, after 3 p.m.
4th of July – Santa Barbara West Beach
West Beach Bandstand Music Show Lineup
12:00 p.m. – 12:15 p.m. Ala Carte
with Jan Ingram and Henry Garrett (American patriotic favorites)
12:20 p.m. -12:50 p.m. Rock Shop Academy
1:00 p.m. – 1:45 p.m. – Goodlanders ( rock cover songs)2:00 p.m. – 2:45 p.m. – Peer Pressure (rock cover songs)3:30 p.m. – 3:45 p.m. – The Three Combroneros (70’s cover)4:00 p.m. – 4:45 p.m. – Walking Coco (cover songs)
5:00 p.m. – 5:45 p.m. – The Other Woman (rock, cover songs)
5:45 pm Old Spanish Days. El Presidente Fritz Olenberger Spirit – Natalia Trevinio Junior Spirit – Victoria Placencia6:00 p.m. – 6:45 p.m. – Ladyfinger. (Grateful Dead cover)
7:00 p.m. – 7:45 p.m. – East Valley Rd (originals, rock and R & B)
7:45 p.m. Uncle Sam Patriotic tribute Army veteran Kraig Pakulski
8:00 p.m. – 8:45 p.m. – False Puppet (rock)
8:45 p.m. Kiki Reyes Star Spangled Banner Oscar Gutierrez Pledge of Allegiance
9:00 p.m. – 9:20 p.m. – Fireworks!
* plus special guests including La Boheme Dancers throughout the day
Media partners 92.9 KJEE and KEYT Newschannel 3-12
Cabrillo Boulevard Sidewalk at West Beach
11:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Tink’s Old Fashioned Hot Dogs, Lidos Philly Cheese Steaks, Timbers Roadhouse, G Brothers Kettle Corn, Elubia’s Kitchen, and The Deli Doctor.
Sponsors:The Point Market and The Fuel Depot, Rudi Schulte Family Foundation, Montecito Bank & Trust, American Riviera Bank, The Berry Man, Santa Barbara Eyeglass Factory, Ablitt’s Fine Cleaners and Tailors, Oshay Family Foundation, La Boheme Productions, Carlton Electrical, Dario Pini Investments, Herc Rentals
Event Coordinators in partnership with the City of Santa Barbara:Roger Perry Insurance, Kim Stabile -Timbers, Islay Events, Hector Hurtado, John Palminteri – host
Logistics: Santa Barbara Waterfront Department, Parks and Recreation, PARC Foundation, Public Works, Parking, Harbor Patrol, Police, Fire and Marborg Industries..
Fireworks – Garden State FireworksAll fireworks outside of the city’s show are illegal. To report specific sites, contact SBPD’s Dispatch Center’s non-emergency line at 805-882-8900. For emergencies, dial 9-1-1 with specific details.
Lifeguards will be on duty from 10 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. at Leadbetter Beach, West Beach, and East Beach.
Additional bike racks will be in place.The MTD Shuttle will be in operation until 6 p.m. along the waterfront.
Road closures:
Cabrillo Boulevard (from Castillo Street to Calle Cesar Chavez)
Closed to vehicle traffic at 6:00 p.m.
State Street (from Gutierrez Street to Cabrillo Boulevard)
Closed to vehicle traffic at 6:00 p.m.
Stearns Wharf
Closed to vehicle traffic at 3:30 p.m.