Alright, so I finally did it. Went down to see that Huntington Beach Fourth of July parade. You hear about it all the time, right? Supposedly the biggest one west of the Mississippi. And it’s been going on for ages, something like 121 years they said. Seemed like one of those things you gotta experience at least once.
Getting Myself Prepped
So, I figured, okay, this is gonna be a whole thing. Crowds, parking, the usual holiday chaos. Did a little digging beforehand. Saw that parking down by the City Beach lots, you know, between First Street and Beach Boulevard, was gonna set me back at least $15. And that’s if you’re lucky, ’cause you know how prices magically go up for “special events.” If you show up in one of those giant RVs, forget about it, you’re paying for every single spot you hog. Made a mental note: get there early, or suffer.
Then I saw they were selling tickets for fancy viewing spots. Right there at Main & PCH, $27 a head. I mean, sure, probably a great view, but part of me just wanted to be in the thick of it, you know? Save a few bucks too. I did appreciate that they broadcast it live on KABC Channel 7, right from that prime spot. Good for folks who can’t make it out, or just can’t be bothered with the hassle.
The Main Event: Parade Time!
The parade was slated to start at 10 AM. I got myself down there, and yeah, parking was exactly the kind of circus I expected. Drove around for a bit, finally snagged a spot, paid the fee – felt like a small victory already. Then the hunt for a decent viewing spot began. People were already lined up, camping out. You could see those reserved bleachers, looking all official. But I found a little patch of curb eventually. Good enough for me.
And then it kicked off. And let me tell you, it is a big parade. Just streams of people, floats, bands, local groups, everything you can imagine. Seriously, they mentioned there’d be loads of participants, well over 500 entries or something like that. Loads of red, white, and blue, obviously. Kids were going nuts, waving their little flags. It’s got that real classic, old-school American celebration feel. You can kinda see why it’s such a tradition down there. It’s quite the production.
What Happened After
Once the last shiny fire truck rolled by, the party wasn’t quite over. They had live music and stuff planned for the whole afternoon. Some folks started packing up, probably eager to beat the traffic, which I totally get. But a good chunk of people stuck around. The big finale, of course, was supposed to be the fireworks over the ocean at 9 p.m. Now that I bet was something to see. I hung around for a while, just soaking it all in, enjoying the general buzz.
Honestly, it was an experience. A bit chaotic, sure. Parking’s a beast, finding a good spot takes some luck or serious early-bird commitment. But it’s one of those quintessential summer things, isn’t it? If you’re thinking about checking it out, just brace yourself for the masses and enjoy the show. It’s a pretty impressive display of community spirit, I’ll give it that. Glad I went.
