Fourth of July Parade will kick off Independence Day festivities

DOWNEY — Mark your calendars: Downey will have a Fourth of July parade this year.

The event, being put on by the Chamber of Commerce and Downey Collective, will look to bring a little bit of old-fashioned Americana to Downtown Downey.

“We’re trying to go back to more like when I was a kid, a 50’s style, apple pie, fireworks, Uncle Sam on stilts maybe in the parade, that kind of stuff,” said Michael Calvert, Executive Director of the Chamber of Commerce. “I think that’s kind of what people are thinking, we’d like to go back a little bit and celebrate our country.

Taking place on June 30, Calvert says the event is meant to kick off the festivities and “get everybody in the mood.”

“We didn’t really want to interfere with family traditions,” said Calvert. “I know growing up we had a pool party, all the neighbors came over, barbecues, that kind of stuff. I enjoyed that growing up, it was very important to me, and I tried to keep it going as long as I could. That’s why we’re not doing it on the fourth.”

Of course, Downey’s Chamber of Commerce is already well-known for the annual Christmas Parade it puts together each year. While some of the entries may be familiar, the parade will run a shorter route and be held in the evening.

Calvert says it will be “reflective of Downey in the summer.”

“I’m not saying that we won’t have a lot of the same entries, but they’ll be different, especially if it's at night and you have to have lights,” said Calvert. “I think it will bring a new element, so it won’t just be sitting at the Christmas parade.”

The overall festival will also include a pop-up market presented by Downey Collective, kid’s zone, and a Miss Firecracker pageant.

“We’re going to have the parking lot at US Bank like we had at the Christmas Parade, and we’re also going to have vendors on Downey Avenue from 2nd to 3rd [Streets],” said Downey Collective event organizer Julie Ledesma.

Collective Organizer Jennifer DeKay said the event was “one way to engage the community.”

“There’s a lot of nonprofits selling fireworks, and this is a great way for them to promote where their booths are going to be by having either a booth at this festival, or being in the parade and passing out coupons for where they’re going to be; it’s just endless possibilities,” said DeKay. “It’s just a great way for the community to come together and engage with each other.”