4th of July - One Week Away

Claremont's annual Independence Day Celebration is coming up in one week. A festival at Memorial Park, the parade, and the fireworks show, all those things we've come to expect on the Fourth.

You can get more information from the city's website. Or call the city's Human Services Department at (909) 399-5490 for more information.

Here's a list of events drawn from the city's information:

Pancake Breakfast
7 to 10 a.m.
Claremont Kiwanis Club members will serve a Pancake Breakfast at Memorial Park just north of the band shell. If still available, Fireworks Tickets will be sold from 7-10 a.m. in conjunction with the Kiwanis Pancake Breakfast, and may still be available at the Information Booth at 10:30 a.m.

Proceeds from the breakfast help support a variety of organizations and community events, such as: Ability First, The Claremont American Red Cross, Concerts in the Park, Best B.E.T., plus other youth and community activities.

Tickets for Breakfast
$3.00 each

Tickets may be purchased the day of or in advance at the following locations:

Claremont Print & Copy - 108 Spring Street
Office of Jess Swick - 414 Yale Ave
Office of Neal Coble - 915 West Foothill Blvd Suite #G
Note: Tickets may be used for either the July 4th or September 20th Kiwanis Club Pancake breakfasts.


Claremont Village Freedom Walk 5000
7:30am - 1k Fun Walk
8:30am - 5K Race & Walk

Click here for information.


Opening Ceremonies
10 a.m.
The Flag Raising Ceremony marks the official beginning of the Independence Day Festival in Memorial Park. Together, the VFW and American Legion help the Independence Day Committee with this reverent ceremony, which includes musical selections, the reading of excerpts from the Declaration of Independence and a ceremonial raising of our nation's flag. This profound event emphasizes the importance we place on our nation's independence and provides an opportunity to celebrate our national pride.


Speakers' Corner
10:45 a.m. to 3:15 p.m.
In order to celebrate our country's First Amendment Right, Speakers' Corner provides a forum for citizens in our community to speak their minds on any subject from personal to global.

Past speeches have focused on politics, religion, history, travel, and personal fulfillment. Age is no barrier. Previous orators have ranged in age from 5-years to over 80.

Speakers' time slots will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis and must be pre-arranged. Interested persons should contact the Speakers' Corner Chair Bil Seymour by e-mail at wa6mod@arrl.net.


Festival Booths & Tables
9 a.m. to 4 p.m. - Information, Game and Selling Area
10 a.m. to 4 p.m. - Food Booths
In the tradition of a hometown event, the festival will feature over 70 non-profit groups providing food, information, games and a wide variety of items for sale. Applications will be available March 1st thru May 9th .

If you are looking for a particular booth or table, a complete list of all groups and their locations will be available at the Independence Day Committee information booth located just north of Garner House (next to the Police Command Station).


Entertainment & Family Activities
FREE Fun for People of All Ages
On July 4th, Memorial Park is truly transformed as a wide variety of performers rove the park providing color and frolicsome fun for people of all ages!

Stage entertainment will include a variety of bands, and other types of entertainment and demonstrations will occur throughout the park, including clowns, strolling bands, jugglers and even a very tall Uncle Sam!


Family Games
11 a.m. to 1 p.m. (approximate)
Just east of the band shell
These games, FREE to all, may include a 3-legged race, the World Famous Tug-O-War and much more. Everyone who participates in the games is a winner, and all children receive a participation ribbon.


Children's Games
10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
East side of the park just north of the game booths
About a dozen different non-profit organizations, including the Independence Day Committee, will provide FREE games and activities for children including:

A rock-climbing wall
An inflatable jumper
A variety of wood and rope set ups like simple stilts, a wood slat (jungle) bridge, a rope (monkey) bridge, balance beams, a horizontal ladder, and land skis

Organizations interested in participating in the game booth area may contact the Human Services Department at (909) 399-5490.


4th of July Celebration Parade
Begins at 4:30pm at the corner of Indian Hill Blvd. & 10th St.

The 4th of July Parade is the highlight of the day. Beginning at 4 p.m. at the corner of Indian Hill Blvd. & 10th St., the parade route moves south to Harrison then west to Mountain Ave., ending at Larkin Park.

The parade has approximately 90 entries including bands, floats, specialty vehicles, musical and novelty groups, and dignitaries. The parade is designed to provide a venue for celebration and is non-commercial.

Children and kids at heart, bring your bicycle and helmet and join the Bike Brigade that leads off the parade. This is a time to use your decorating skills!

Spectators are encouraged to select their spot early. Please remember that we do not allow items such as candy, water or flyers to be thrown from the parade route, and we ask that any soliciting be done from the sidewalk.

Click here for parade route.


Claremont's Fireworks Spectacular!
Pomona College - Strehle Track
Gates open 6:30 p.m.
Show begins 9 p.m.
The Independence Day Celebration culminates with an fireworks show and a live Rock & Roll concert by the LCR Band, a hometown band and local favorite that has performed for many Claremont functions. We are excited about having them back!

The fireworks show has developed over the years and has become one of the biggest and best shows in all of Los Angeles County! The 20+ minute show is fully synchronized to music and electronically fired. Each year, the Independence Day Committee has added a new element to the fireworks - from "waterfalls" and "silver bees" to "happy faces." Come check out the latest addition this year - it is sure to make you "pop!"

Click here for Fireworks Event Map.

Tickets Available June 1, 2008
Cost: $6.00 pre-sale, $8.00 at gate

Purchase Locations:
Claremont City Hall -207 Harvard Ave.
Claremont Human Services - 1700 Danbury Rd.
Claremont Chamber of Commerce - 205 Yale Ave.
Vons - 550 E. Baseline Rd.
Wolfe's Market - 160 W. Foothill Blvd.