My favorite day of the year in Ojai is July 4th and one of main reasons is the Ojai Parade. When I say there is a little of everything, I'm not kidding. Tractors, church floats, floats promoting safe party rides, marching bands, rock bands, schools, vintage cars and 'smart cars' ... and everything from hippies to cowboys. You name it! Anyway, I tried to get a few different things from last year's post.
Many of you know that in the last six years both my sister and her family and my parents have moved up to Ojai. We lived in Ventura (about 20 minutes away from Ojai) for most of my childhood. The amazing thing is that recently my sister's interest in genealogy has produced some surprising results. My great great great (I think it's three greats) grandfather is buried in little cemetery about a 1/2 mile from my sisters house! Then she found out that he had had a little plumbing/hardware shop in the little downtown area. At one point he also had an ice-cream store next to the old theater. AND (I love this) my great great grandmother had a millinery shop downtown! I love hats so maybe it's in my blood!
Anyway, enjoy a little slice of small town America. (It's not just in the middle of the country!)
This poor little thing looked absolutely miserable in the heat. Her expression was definitely "What have they done to me?" ... but she did wave!
Ojai Fitness Float ~
American Vedic Association
Church float ~ Ojai style with tie-dye
Ojai Mardi Gras Float
Danza Alteca Tonalli Community and Family Center
Veterans ...
And of course, my favorite float ... from the left, my brother in law Greg, my niece Rachel, their friend Gabe, my niece Elizabeth and my nephew Benjamin, who was having a grand ol' time! They were all on Ben's school float! (The girls had gone to the same school when they were little.) It was so fun sitting with my Mom, Dad, Penny and my friend Kristi, yelling from the side of the road and screaming as they went by!
O beautiful for spacious skies,
For amber waves of grain,
For purple mountain majesties
Above the fruited plain!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea!
For amber waves of grain,
For purple mountain majesties
Above the fruited plain!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea!
~Lyrics by Katharine Lee Bates
Hope you all had a fantastic weekend and have been enjoying your week!
10 comments:
The parade looks great! That sweet little girl with the face paint looked so cute and classically wretched. Great picture!
And I love that your family accidentally relocated to a place they were already from -- what a fun family fact!
What a fun and colorful parade!! You captured it so well!
Nice colourful photos. Greetings.
Such an eclectic, inclusive parade!! And so very colorful!!
Love the fitness float and the belly dancers!
Great photos Lu! Love our little town and you captured it so well. No cupcakes? Just kidding:)
Yup...it takes all kinds! Beautiful Americana! Summer in July...no better time is there?!
how much fun!!! have a great week!!!
Thanks for the comments! Hope you had a great week!
Such fun, and wonderful pictures!
Wow... wonderful series about 4th july... the Indipendence day... One day I'll come there to see this wonderful day!!!! :D
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