The City of Huntington Beach says it’s hoping to revive its Fourth of July celebrations this year, after being forced to cancel the popular three-day event last year.
Of course, the city’s community services manager said, the show will only go on if it’s safe to do so.
“All of this is completely COVID dependent, and the city is strictly following state and county guidelines. The city will not jump the gun when it comes to reopening our events to the public,” Chris Cole told The Epoch Times.
“For an event of that size and magnitude, we could have up to half a million people that come to the Fourth of July celebration, so we'll have to be in a place that public events are [safely] in full swing.”
The Fourth of July Celebration is a deeply rooted tradition in Huntington Beach, spanning 117 years. It includes a parade, a three-day festival on the pier, the Surf City Run, a pancake breakfast, and fireworks show.
“[It’s] the longest running parade this side of the Mississippi,” Cole said.
The tradition began on July 4, 1904 when the first electric passenger train, sponsored by the Board of Trade (now known as the Chamber of Commerce), transported 50,000 people to Huntington Beach’s celebration.
The event could be modified this year to meet state health restrictions, but details of an adjusted schedule have not yet been developed.
