Lamorinda Prepares To Show Its True Colors

Everyone loves a parade. This year, the Orinda Association, in partnership with the Orinda Community Foundation, Orinda Chamber of Commerce and the Lafayette Chamber of Commerce, aim to give us one.

Look for a fun run, pancake breakfast (hosted by Lafayette’s Sunrise Rotary this year), parade on both sides of Orinda, and park activities. Moraga is planning to cap off the day with a few fireworks. Orinda Motors and Mechanic’s Bank are title sponsors with Chase Bank a major sponsor for this year's festivities in Orinda -- with a planned salute to those who have served in the armed forces.

For the first time, the Moraga and Lafayette Chambers of Commerce will join the Orinda Chamber in promoting a business-decorating contest that involves all three cities. Local businesses will vie for best Fourth of July decorations. In addition, the Lafayette Chamber has offered to provide equipment and volunteers to make the parade in Orinda and park festivities better than ever.

"This celebration takes a tremendous amount of coordination and volunteer help," said Orinda Association president and Fourth of July chairman Bill Waterman. "We are very fortunate to have the Lafayette Chamber take such an active role. With their help, as well as the Moraga Chamber, this year’s celebration will be better than ever."

Things kick off with a 7:30 a.m. pancake breakfast hosted by Lafayette’s Sunrise Rotary followed by the Roadrunners’ Fun Run and Haley’s Run for a Reason. Participants can choose between a 2-mile run/walk or a 5-mile run through scenic parts of Orinda and EBMUD watershed.

At 10 a.m., the parade begins by the Orinda Theatre and travels under the freeway to the Orinda Community Center. When the parade ends at approximately 11:30 a.m., a wide variety of activities are scheduled at the Orinda Community Center Park. Adults can check out nonprofit informational booths while children enjoy the petting zoo or enter Orinda Motors’ Hot Wheels Race. There will also be face painters, music, balloon artists, a beanbag toss and several carnival games. The Miramonte High School Varsity Football team will return to run its popular football toss and celebrity characters, such as Cinderella and Indiana Jones, will roam the crowd.

Food and beverage booths, including the popular Orinda Chamber of Commerce’s hot dogs, ice cream from Loard’s, Thai food from Baan Thai, and California cuisine from Shelby’s Restaurant, will be available in the park. Republic of Cake is also believed to be offering its wares. Providing background music for it all with be the retro-modern blends of Trivalve, a trio specializing in their own unique interpretation of instrumental surf music.

Car enthusiasts will get their fix with Orinda Motors’ classic car show at the entrance to the park, giving a glimpse of a few of the prize automobiles that will be displayed at the annual Classic Car Show in September.  

To accommodate the parade, the westbound Highway 24 on/off ramp and the east side of Camino Pablo will be closed from approximately 9:30 a.m. – 11:30 p.m. Traffic will be allowed on the west side of Camino Pablo with the on/off ramps on that side of the street open. For the complete schedule of activities, the parade route, and parking availability, go to www.orindaassociation.org or call 925-254-0800.

Patch Notes: There are two interesting side activities to this year's celebration. The first is the All-Volunteer Marching Band and the second is a "Help the Flags Fly" option where residents can buy a flag to be hung around Orinda to make the day even more patriotic and festive.

Marching Band - All-Volunteer Marching Band. New members welcome. Just one practice - July 4 at 8 a.m. for drummers (drums supplied) and 9 a.m. for all other musicians. Parade starts at 10 a.m. and concludes around 11:30 a.m. Lots of fun. Call Marie Waterman at 254-0800 or Bobbie Landers at 254-8260.

Help the Flags Fly - Organizers would like to fly a U.S. flag from every Orinda light pole in downtown to celebrate the 4th of July. You can help raise the Star Spangled Banner with a small contribution. Call 254-0800 for information.