The Vietnam Veterans of America participated in the 54th Annual Pierre Claeyssens 4th of July Parade on State Street in downtown Santa Barbara on Thursday. 
Fireworks fill the nighttime sky Thursday, as seen from Shoreline Park in Santa Barbara. 
Fans line the street Thursday for the 54th Annual Pierre Claeyssens 4th of July Parade on State Street in downtown Santa Barbara. 
Santa Barbara County First District Supervisor Das Williams with his daughter Y’ash. 
World War II Veterans and supporters marched during the parade on Thursday. 
Fans line the street Thursday for the 54th Annual Pierre Claeyssens 4th of July Parade on State Street in downtown Santa Barbara. 
Santa Barbara Mayor Cathy Murillo twirled a baton as she walked. 
First District Supervisor Das Williams and his daughter walk in their second parade of the day, after first participating in Montecito’s Village Fourth festivities. 
Rep. Salud Carbajal, D-Santa Barbara, waves to spectators. 
Fourth of July fireworks explode over the Dolphin Fountain at the base of Santa Barbara’s Stearns Wharf on Thursday. ISO 100, 4.5 Second Shutter Aperture 6.3 
Fourth of July fireworks light up the sky in a view from the Santa Barbara breakwater. 
Spectators crowd Shoreline Park for the fireworks show at West Beach. 
Fourth of July fireworks explode over the Dolphin Fountain at the base of Santa Barbara’s Stearns Wharf on Thursday. ISO 100, 3.1 second Shutter, Aperture 4.0 
While it may have lacked the flair and dazzle of President Trump's lavish 4th of July Celebration in Washington, D.C., Santa Barbara's annual Fourth of July downtown parade was full of patriotism and its own brand of politics.
The 56th Annual 4th of July Parade was put on by the Pierre Claeyssens Veterans Foundation, and featured more than 150 entries. The parade began on Micheltorena Street and rolled to Cota Street.
Thousands of tourists and locals lined State Street to watch the procession.
Participants included the Vietnam Veterans of American, the Knights of Columbus, the Santa Barbara Fire Department, the Santa Barbara Peace Corps Association, Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 218, the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Pipe & Drum Corps, La Boheme Dance Group and veterans from World War II.
The parade also featured marching bands, dance groups, military vehicles, horses and vintage cars.
“It's fabulous,” said Ruth Rech, a Santa Barbara resident, who attended the parade along with her husband, Greg Rech, and their two granddaughters, Noah and Piper Hollander, who were visiting from Washington. “The parade offers a nice variety.”
Noah said the parade is “really cool” and “I like the animals.”
Several local officials also participated in the parade, including State Sen. Hannah Beth-Jackson, Santa Barbara First District county Supervisor Das Williams, Rep. Salud Carbajal, D-Santa Barbara, and several Santa Barbara City Council members.
The parade was followed by the 2019 Concert at the Santa Barbara Courthouse Sunken Garden, with the theme of Ellis Island: The Dream of America.
Festivities also took place along the Santa Barbara Waterfront, with musical and dance performances culminating in a fireworks display.
— Noozhawk staff writer Joshua Molina can be reached at jmolina@noozhawk.com. Follow Noozhawk on Twitter: @noozhawk, @NoozhawkNews and @NoozhawkBiz. Connect with Noozhawk on Facebook.
