Thanks to the Hansen family and Van Laars for helping select this year’s parade award recipients.
Fresh out of 16 months of COVID precautions, Orinda residents were not sure what the 4th of July would look like this year, but the celebration did not disappoint. By 11 a.m., a large crowd gathered at both the Orinda Theatre District and near the Community Center to watch the parade as it began its march from one side of Orinda to the other. A group of teenagers expressed they were “so excited” to see what the parade had in store.
While this year’s parade was a little smaller than normal, it included many local organizations such as the Peter Pan Foundation, Orinda Rotary Club, Wagner Ranch Nature Preserve, Lamorinda 4-H Club, Miramonte’s cheer and football teams and more.
Two of Orinda’s swim clubs – Orinda Country Club and Sleepy Hollow – also made an appearance, complete with water guns and bubbles. The parade finished with the Orinda All-Volunteer Marching Band, which included participants of all ages who met for one rehearsal the day of the parade. They concluded their mini-concert with a tribute to the U.S. armed forces.
Many parade-watchers stayed an extra hour to watch the band, “Three Day Weekend,” perform in the park. Circles (“family bubbles”) had been painted on the grass ahead of time so that audience members could enjoy the music safely distanced from one another. As the band performed, children played in the park and people danced and chatted. While it might not have looked the same as previous years, Orinda volunteers worked together to create a truly wonderful 4th of July celebration for the community.
