2016 Huntington Beach Parade

The 2016 Huntington Beach Parade

Huntington Beach Parade

Huntington Beach Parade

The 2016 Huntington Beach Parade takes place on Monday, July 4th, and is the 112th Annual Huntington Beach Fourth of July Parade.  The Huntington Beach Parade begins at 10 am and lasts about two hours.  The theme for the 2016 Huntington Beach 4th of July Parade is “America the Beautiful.”

The public is welcome to come and view the parade in Huntington Beach, or watch the 4th of July Parade live on television via your local KABC–TV station.

The Huntington Beach Parade co-Grand Marshalls this year are Mickey & Minnie Mouse as Dinseyland Resort joins the 4th of July Parade for the first time.

The Sports Grand Marshal is Tony Parrish, NFL foorball player for the Chicago Bears, San Francisco 49ers & Dallas Cowboys.

The Military Grand Marshal is Col. Dustin Ziegler, Commander, Defense Contract Management Agency at Boeing Huntington Beach.

The Junior Grand Marshal is Hadley Belle Miller (the voice of “Lucy van Pelt” in the new 3D animated feature The Peanuts Movie).

The Community Grand Marshal is Joan Flynn.

Huntington Beach Parade Celebrity guests include Tim Conway Jr. (comedian and radio talk show host on KFI AM 640), and “Shotgun Tom” Kelly (Southern California radio and TV personality).

Other invited guests include Olympic athlete Shirley Babashoff, athlete Jami Goldman-Marseilles, and Technology Guest Dr. John Tracy, chief technology officer of The Boeing Company.

The parade route begins at Pacific Coast Highway (PCH) and 8th Street.  The parade will travel south on PCH, turn left on Main Street and continue up Main Street ending past Yorktown.

There is no cost to attend the Huntington Beach Fourth of July Parade but prime viewing spots will be filled early.  Some of the more popular spots include the stretch of PCH between 8th Street and Main Street, the commercial area on Main Street near PCH, the area around Lake Park on Main Street, and the area next to the Huntington Beach Civic Center and HB High School.

Lake Park has bleacher seats available to the public and these seats are highly recommended to assure good viewing of the Huntington Beach Parade.  The $15 pre-sale cost of the bleacher seats is reasonable and the proceeds benefit local charity.

The other advantage of Lake Park is that this is the location of the Huntington Beach Kiwanis Club pancake breakfast beginning at 7 am.

See our FAQ about the Huntington Beach Parade for details about times, locations, parking, street closures, VIP tickets, and more.

Huntington Beach Parade - Huntington Beach YMCA Adventure Guides

Huntington Beach Parade – Huntington Beach YMCA Adventure Guides

The Huntington Beach 4th of July Parade is actually part of a three day Huntington Beach Pier Plaza Festival with events beginning Saturday morning, July 2, and ending Monday evening, July 4.

The Huntington Beach Pier Plaza Festival will be going on from 10 am to 9 pm Saturday, 10 am to 9 pm Sunday, and 10 am to 9:30 pm Monday.  There will be live entertainment, vendors, exhibits, food, and family activities.  This will all take place around the Huntington Beach Pier.

Other activities the day of July 4 include:

– the Huntington Beach Kiwanis Club pancake breakfast at Lake Park beginning at 7 am;

– the Huntington Beach Surf City 5K Run and Fitness Expo from 6 am to 10 am at Worthy Park located at Main Street and 17th Street; and

– the Huntington Beach Fireworks Show at 9 pm on the Huntington Beach Pier.

Tips for Attending the 2016 Huntington Beach Fourth of July Parade:

– Arrive very early.  The crowds will be large, parking will be difficult, and you will need time to walk to the parade route and find a spot for viewing.

– Bring quarters in case you need to feed a parking meter, and cash for parking lots.

Huntington Beach Parade - El Bekal Shrine Temple Clowns

Huntington Beach Parade – El Bekal Shrine Temple Clowns

– Call the Huntington Beach Community Services Department at 714-536-5486 to pre-purchase bleacher seating at Lake Park.  You will save $5 per seat and avoid the risk that bleacher seats sell out by the time you get there.

– Bring sunscreen and water.

– Review the street closures and parking maps in our FAQ about the Huntington Beach Parade.  The street closures will make driving very aggravating if you have not planned your route.

– Be respectful of fellow visitors and homeowners along the parade route.  Huntington Beach is a family community and there will be a heavy police presence to assure public safety.