𝗦𝗧𝗔𝗡𝗗𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗧𝗢𝗚𝗘𝗧𝗛𝗘𝗥: Santa Monica Welcomes Pacific Palisades to Fourth of July Parade on Main Street

SANTA MONICA, CA — July 4, 2025 — In a spirited celebration of Independence Day and community resilience, the Ocean Park Association hosted the 19th Annual Fourth of July Parade along Main Street in Santa Monica. This year’s event carried added significance as residents from fire-stricken Pacific Palisades were invited to join the festivities after canceling their own local parade.

The procession began at 9:30 a.m. at Pico and Main Street, winding south through Ocean Park and concluding at Barnard Way. Thousands of spectators lined the route to cheer on a vibrant display of floats, marching groups, musical performances, and community spirit.

Among the highlights were the Santa Monica High School Marching Band, whose rousing patriotic melodies echoed through the corridor, and the Santa Monica College Cheerleaders, who energized the crowd with dynamic routines. Santa Monica Police Department’s Mounted Unit also participated, drawing applause as officers rode on horseback in ceremonial formation.

Elected officials and city leaders made appearances, including Mayor Lana Negrete, State Senator Ben Allen, Assemblymember Richard Bloom, Police Chief Ramon Batista, and Fire Chief Matthew Hallock.

Classic cars—among them a 100-year-old Model T—added historical flair to the procession, while neighborhood groups, youth organizations, cyclists, and performers contributed to a colorful and inclusive celebration of civic pride.

The parade served as both a tribute to American independence and a show of regional solidarity, with Santa Monica welcoming Pacific Palisades participants in the wake of recent wildfire devastation. For many, it was a morning marked by unity, joy, and shared gratitude under clear summer skies.

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Santa Monica Closeup continues to document community traditions and public events of local significance. What’s your favorite part of this year’s parade—classic cars, marching bands, or the show of solidarity with Pacific Palisades? Leave your thoughts below.
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#FourthOfJuly #SantaMonicaParade #MainStreetSantaMonica #PacificPalisades #CommunityCelebration

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𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝘃𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗼 𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗱 𝘀𝗼𝗹𝗲𝗹𝘆 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝘂𝘀𝗲. 𝗔𝗻𝘆 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺 𝗼𝗳 𝗰𝗼𝗽𝘆𝗶𝗻𝗴, 𝗿𝗲-𝘂𝗽𝗹𝗼𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴, 𝘀𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴, 𝗼𝗿 𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝘂𝗻𝗮𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿𝗶𝘇𝗲𝗱 𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗰𝘁𝗹𝘆 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗵𝗶𝗯𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗱.

© 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱 𝗙𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗮𝗻 𝗟𝗲𝘄𝗸𝗼𝘄𝗶𝗰𝘇 / 𝗦𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗮 𝗠𝗼𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗮 𝗖𝗹𝗼𝘀𝗲𝘂𝗽. 𝗔𝗹𝗹 𝗥𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗲𝗱.
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𝗔𝗕𝗢𝗨𝗧 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗖𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗧𝗢𝗥
Fabian Lewkowicz is an award-winning photojournalist based in Santa Monica and the creator of 𝗦𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗮 𝗠𝗼𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗮 𝗖𝗹𝗼𝘀𝗲𝘂𝗽. Known for his compelling imagery and neutral reporting, his work captures the pulse of the city—from civic affairs and emergency response to cultural moments and beach life. His photography has been showcased in galleries, museums, and public installations.
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𝗦𝗨𝗣𝗣𝗢𝗥𝗧 𝗦𝗔𝗡𝗧𝗔 𝗠𝗢𝗡𝗜𝗖𝗔 𝗖𝗟𝗢𝗦𝗘𝗨𝗣
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𝗙𝗢𝗟𝗟𝗢𝗪 𝗨𝗦 𝗙𝗢𝗥 𝗗𝗔𝗜𝗟𝗬 𝗖𝗢𝗩𝗘𝗥𝗔𝗚𝗘
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𝗕𝗘𝗖𝗢𝗠𝗘 𝗔 𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗡𝗡𝗘𝗟 𝗠𝗘𝗠𝗕𝗘𝗥 𝗙𝗢𝗥 𝗘𝗫𝗖𝗟𝗨𝗦𝗜𝗩𝗘 𝗣𝗘𝗥𝗞𝗦
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𝗟𝗜𝗖𝗘𝗡𝗦𝗜𝗡𝗚 & 𝗠𝗘𝗗𝗜𝗔 𝗜𝗡𝗤𝗨𝗜𝗥𝗜𝗘𝗦
Email 👉 [email protected]
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𝗧𝗔𝗚𝗦: Photojournalism, Visual Journalism, Street Reporting, Documentary, Observational Photography, Press Photography, Independent Media, Southern California News, SMCU, SM©U
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𝗦𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗮 𝗠𝗼𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗮 𝗖𝗹𝗼𝘀𝗲𝘂𝗽 𝗱𝗼𝗰𝘂𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗽𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗰 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗹𝗼𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲, 𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗹𝘂𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝗼𝗿𝗴𝗮𝗻𝗶𝘇𝗲𝗱 𝗼𝗿 𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗼𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗶𝘁𝘆, 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝘆, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀. 𝗖𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗱𝗼𝗲𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗹𝘆 𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗼𝗿𝘀𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁—𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗿𝗼𝗹𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁, 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗺𝗼𝘁𝗲.