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Event Information:
Huntington Beach is the home of
the Annual Huntington Beach 4th of
July Parade. The 108th annual parade
will march down the streets of
downtown Huntington Beach. The
largest Independence Day parade west
of the Mississippi River features
more than 300 entries including
bands, floats, local dignitaries,
equestrian groups, film and
television celebrities and community
groups. Entertainment on the pier
will continue until 9:00 p.m., when
the 4th of July fireworks show
begins. Independence Day is a
national holiday marked by patriotic
displays. Similar to other
summer-themed events, Independence
Day celebrations often take place
outdoors. Independence Day is a
federal holiday, so all
non-essential federal institutions
(like the postal service and federal
courts) are closed on that day. Many
politicians make it a point on this
day to appear at a public event to
praise the nation's heritage, laws,
history, society, and people.
Families often celebrate
Independence Day by hosting or
attending a picnic or barbecue and
take advantage of the day off and,
in some years, long weekend to
gather with relatives. Decorations
(e.g., streamers, balloons, and
clothing) are generally colored red,
white, and blue, the colors of the
American flag. Parades often are in
the morning, while fireworks
displays occur in the evening at
such places as parks, fairgrounds,
or town squares. The downtown
district includes an active art
center, a colorful shopping
district, and the International
Surfing Museum. This district was
also the home of The Golden Bear
from 1929–1986. Originally a fine
dining restaurant opened by Harry
Bakre in 1929, the Golden Bear
became a nightclub in 1963 and
hosted famous-name entertainment
until it was demolished in 1986. The
list of artists who performed there
includes BB King, Janis Joplin,
Steve Martin, Charles Bukowski, and
Stevie Ray Vaughan. The Huntington
Beach Pier stretches from Main
Street into the Pacific Ocean. At
the end of the pier is a Ruby's
Diner. The Surf Theatre, which was
located one block north of the pier,
gained fame in the 1960s and 1970s
for showing independent surf films
such as The Endless Summer and Five
Summer Stories. The Surf Theatre was
owned and operated by Hugh Larry
Thomas from 1961 until it was
demolished in 1989.
A newer version of The Surf Theatre
is now closed, but the International
Surf Museum has preserved its memory
with a permanent exhibit featuring
vintage seats and screening of
surfing movies once shown at a
Huntington Beach theater.Many of the
events at Huntington Beach are
focused around the beach during the
summer. The U.S. Open of Surfing and
Beach Games are featured on the
south side of the pier. Huntington
Beach was a stop on the AVP beach
volleyball tour. A biathlon
(swim/run) hosted by the Bolsa Chica
& Huntington State Beach Lifeguards
takes place in July, early at dawn.
The race begins at the Santa Ana
River Jetties and ends at Warner
Avenue, Bolsa Chica State Beach.
Huntington Beach Junior Lifeguard
day camps are held which teaches
pre-adolescents and adolescents
ocean swimming, running, and
first-aid medical knowledge. In
addition to the beach-focused
events, the Fourth of July parade
has been held since 1904. The SoCal
Independent Film Festival takes
place every September.
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