July 4, 2024, 10 a.m.
The Orinda Association
Volunteer Center
26 Orinda Way
Orinda, CA
Free,
OrindaAssociation.org
Parade at 10 a.m.
Parade Route: the parade will proceed through the Crossroads business district, back down Camino Pablo under Highway 24, right on Santa Maria Way, then left on Orinda Way past the reviewing stand in front of the Orinda Community Center. The parade will go past Camino Sobrante then disperse.
July 4th is an Orinda tradition
started by the Orinda Association in the
early 1980s as a way to celebrate not
only Independence Day, but also to
celebrate community. Thousands of
citizens gather on this special day to
not only watch or participate in the
parade, but also attend the numerous
other events available throughout the
day. On July 4th there are events for
every age group starting with the annual
Pancake Breakfast, flag raising
ceremony, fun run, parade, live music,
food, games and booths in the park
following the parade. Everyone is
invited to participate in the planning,
sponsor a booth or event, participate in
the parade, host a booth in the park, or
just come and enjoy the events.
Street Closures:
Detailed information can be found on the
Map of the Orinda Parade and Community
Events coming soon. Roads along the
parade route will be closed.
Additionally, below is a list of other
access roads which will be restricted
during the parade and community center
events after the parade.
1. The westbound Highway 24 on ramp
(east side of Camino Pablo) will be
closed during the parade from
approximately 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
2. One northbound lane of Camino Pablo
will remain open.
3. The southbound lanes of Camino Pablo
with the on/off ramps on that side of
the street will remain open.
3. Moraga Way from Wells Fargo Bank to
the Davis Road intersection will be
closed from 10:00 am - 1:00 p.m.
4. A portion of Santa Maria and all of
Orinda Way will be closed from 9:30 a.m.
- 1:00 p.m. for the Parade and Community
Center .
5. Highway 24 access for both on and off
ramps will be available from St.
Stephens Drive.
Parking: Street parking will not be
available along the parade route on
Moraga Way or on Orinda Way. All other
street parking is available as well as
Orinda BART's west parking lot. For
handicapped parking, drivers may drop
off people in front of the Community
Center on Orinda Way up until 9:00 a.m.
PARADE HISTORY:
Early one morning in the winter of 1984,
Dick Heggie, Bill Gross, and Bobbie
Landers were sitting in the Orinda
Association's cramped office trying to
think of a way to get local residents
excited about Orinda becoming a city.
With local residents dissatisfied with
county services, the Orinda Association
and several other local residents had
begun thinking about incorporation. They
needed to find a way to build excitement
among locals – a way to bring the
community together in a fun way while
also educating people to the pros and
cons of local city government. As
Landers thought back to the hot summers
in her home town of Glen Ellyn,
Illinois, she remembered how much she
used to look forward to her town's 4th
of July parade, and why not bring that
same sense of togetherness and pride to
Orinda. Heggie and Gross concurred and
Orinda's 4th of July parade and
celebration was born!
The festivities have continued to grow
year after year with lots of fun
activities for children from a Hot
Wheels race to balloon animals to making
things at the Home Depot booth. Adults
also have plenty to make them smile with
several great bands playing throughout
the day and a plethora of great food and
drinks to enjoy.
Events are not guaranteed. It is your responsibility to confirm before going.