Today, Ron, Liz, Ethan, Ray, and I attended the annual Ojai 4th of July parade. This is a big deal in this little town of 8,000, and people set up folding chairs along the parade route weeks in advance to get a prime, shady spot. For the second year in a row, we were comfortable in a location that is shady for most of the parade and close to a bathroom (the grocery store across the street) and a coffee stand (immediately behind us). Prior to this, we had another prime location, but people had the gall to set up their chairs there beginning last year, so we had to relocate.

This parade is full of everything small America has to offer, from tractors to the Corvair club to the high school marching band to horses to three separate Mexican horse clubs, complete with their own bands, to a drumming corps to the Save the Turtles conservancy to the Hari Krishna float finishing up with Smoky the Bear

There was a large crowd of mainly locals, but with the usual weekend tourists (mainly from LA) thrown in for good measure. If you’re looking for a bona fide hometown parade, then mark your calendar for July 4th, 2027. But be sure to wear a hat, plenty of sunscreen, and bring your own blanket or folding chair. Otherwise, you’ll be standing for the 1 1/2 hour parade.

Here are a few photos and videos:

Ron, Ethan, Liz, Penelope, Rhys, Sydney, and Alex