Classic cars, floats and horseback riders made their way through downtown Solvang on Friday morning as the Solvang Rotary Club’s Fourth of July Parade brought out 74 entries and a crowd happy to beat the heat.
With the theme “Anything Is Possible in America,” this year’s parade began at 10 a.m., an hour earlier than its traditional start time. The earlier start avoided the midday heat and seemed to be a welcome change for attendees.
“It looked like it started an hour earlier this year because the heat last year was brutal,” said Kyle Lemon, a Santa Ynez Valley resident since 2009 who volunteered with a friend in the Civil Air Patrol. “I was very happy to help out, and I got a front-row seat to the parade.”
The parade began at the corner of Mission Drive and Alisal Road, heading west along Mission before looping back east along Copenhagen Drive. Spectators lined both sides of the route with folding chairs and flags, and while the event was well attended, there seemed to be plenty of space for everyone to get a good view.
This year’s lineup included a wide mix of entries from across the Santa Ynez Valley and Santa Barbara County.
Grand Marshals Walter and Kay Alves led the procession in a 1958 Ford Fairlane Skyliner, followed by a fleet of Corvettes from the Vapor Trail Vettes and vintage vehicles from the Santa Maria Model A Ford Club.
A restored 1928 Model A Roadster and a 1956 Chevy Nomad also cruised through downtown and were among the many entries that received awards after the parade.
Santa Ynez Valley Union High School student athletes show their patriotism and school spirit during Friday’s Fourth of July parade in Solvang. Credit: Nick Forselles / Noozhawk photo 
Buellton Vice Mayor John Sanchez rides with family in the Solvang Rotary Club’s Fourth of July Parade on Friday morning. Credit: Nick Forselles / Noozhawk photo A woman and a child ride in Solvang’s Fourth of July parade, one of several equestrian entries featured this year. Credit: Nick Forselles / Noozhawk photo 
A participant makes his way along the parade route during Solvang’s Fourth of July celebration Friday morning. Credit: Nick Forselles / Noozhawk photo 
Parade entries roll along Copenhagen Drive as part of Solvang’s Fourth of July celebration Friday morning. Credit: Nick Forselles / Noozhawk photo 
Children on a float cool off with a splash during Solvang’s Fourth of July parade on Friday. Credit: Nick Forselles / Noozhawk photo 
Solvang’s Fourth of July parade on Friday featured 74 entries ranging from local organizations to vintage vehicles and horseback riders. Credit: Nick Forselles / Noozhawk photo 
Participants make their way along the parade route during Solvang’s Fourth of July celebration Friday morning. Credit: Nick Forselles / Noozhawk photo 
Parade entries roll along Copenhagen Drive as part of Solvang’s Fourth of July celebration Friday morning. Credit: Nick Forselles / Noozhawk photo 
Children on a parade float squirt water at spectators during Friday’s Fourth of July parade in Solvang. Credit: Nick Forselles / Noozhawk photo 
Spectators enjoy bubbles and more during Friday’s Fourth of July parade in Solvang. Credit: Nick Forselles / Noozhawk photo 
An entry makes it way along the parade route during Solvang’s Fourth of July celebration Friday morning. Credit: Nick Forselles / Noozhawk photo
Following the parade, awards were handed out in more than two dozen categories. The winners included:
- Best Use of Parade Theme — Miss Santa Ynez Old Days Rodeo Queen Hailee Taylor and Beefer the mini cow
- Most Patriotic — Daughters of the American Revolution
- Most Original — Central Coast Mini Riders (Munster Coffinmobile)
- Most Amusing — Solvang Theaterfest comedian Orny Adams Show (Sept. 13)
- Most Unique — First Street Leather
- Best Band — Figueroa Mountain Brewing Co.
- Best Singing Group — Agin Brothers Cars and Cowboys
- Best Singing, Single — Sanger Family of Wines
- Best Family Group — Bob Jones, four generations of Joneses
- Best Church Group — Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints
- Best Senior Group — Solvang Senior Center
- Best Animal Group — Cuadras Unidas del Valle
- Best Wagon Group — Santa Maria Elks Lodge 1538 Officer Wagon and Color Guard
- Best Automobile Group — Vapor Trail Vettes
- Best Automobile, Single — George family 1928 Model A Roadster
- Best Automobile, Restored — Bob and Margo Gould’s 1956 Chevy Nomad and 1958 Shasta trailer
- Best Automobile, Antique — Santa Maria Model A Ford Club
- Best Automobile Antique Group — Rotary Club of Buellton
- Best Fire Engine — Summerset Farm’s 1928 Stanford firetruck
- Best Tractor — Chloe Hinnrich’s 1945 Farmall M tractor
- Best Equestrian Group — Charros Unidos of Costa Central
- Best Equestrian, Single — Santa Maria Elks outrider
- Best Viking Ship — Vikings of Solvang
- Best Color Guard — VFW Post 7139 and American Legion Post 160
- Best Street Sweeper — SP Maintenance Services
- Road Apple Crew — Espuelas y Rebozos
- Best Uncle Sam — Kevan Harder, Nielsen Building Materials
- Best Sport Group — Santa Ynez Valley Union High School junior varsity football team
- Best Military Group — Flat Fender Friends
- Best Dancing Group — Garcia Dance Group
- Most Energetic — Pacific Flips Gymnastics
- Best Group for a Cause — Santa Ynez Valley Youth Recreation
- Best School Group — SYVUHS water polo teams and aquatics foundation
- Best Youth Group — SYVUHS girls volleyball
- Best Audience Participation — Veggie Rescue
