By Jorge Casuso

July 3, 2025 -- On Friday, an old-fashioned parade will wind down Main Street, City Hall will close its doors and Independence Day will be capped with the world's only solar-powered Ferris Wheel glowing red, white and blue.

The Ocean Park Association's (OPA) 4th of July parade-- which celebrates the arts on Santa Monica's 150th birthday -- kicks off at 9:30 a.m. at Pico and Main Street and travels south before turning right onto Marine Street and ending at Barnard Way.

The parade route and some streets leading to it will be closed to vehicle traffic from 6 a.m. to noon. Public parking is available at lots off Neilson Way to the West, although walking and biking are recommended.

Spectators can watch the parade -- which includes classic cars, marching and rolling bands and floats -- anywhere along the route.
The official parade grandstand will be located in front of the Ocean Park Library at the corner of Ocean Park and Main Street.

In addition to City Hall, the Colorado Yards, Swim Center and Public Library will be closed on Friday.

Also closed are the Tennis Office at Reed Park, the Memorial Park Gymnasium, the Cove Skatepark, the offices at Virginia Avenue Park and the Police Activities League Youth Center.

The Santa Monica Swim Center will be open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Santa Monica's Big Blue Bus lines will operate on a weekend schedule Friday, and the Transit Store and Customer Service will be closed.

Parking meters will not be enforced on July 4th, except for meters that are enforced daily according to posted signage. Meters that are enforced daily must be paid.

All City of Santa Monica beach lots and pay-by-space lots are enforced 7 days a week, 24 hours a day, including Independence Day. Preferential Parking (residential/visitor permits) will also be enforced on Friday.

There will be no refuse, recycling, or yard/green waste collection or street sweeping Friday.

The Entertainment Zone at the Third Street Promenade will be open Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. The zone allows visitors to buy alcoholic drinks on the Promenade and consume them on the walk street.

The Santa Monica Fire Department reminds the community that all fireworks are illegal in Santa Monica.

Pacific Park on the Santa Monica Pier will celebrate Independence Day by "lighting up the night sky with a dazzling 90-foot-tall, animated American flag on its iconic Ferris wheel," the amusement park announced.

As part of a week-long Fourth of July celebration, the nine-story Ferris wheel featuring 174,000 LED lights will join other Southern California landmarks in glowing red, white, and blue, in tribute to the holiday.

Independence Day commemorates the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1776 when the Continental Congress declared that the 13 American colonies were no longer subject to the monarchy of Britain and were united, free, and independent states.

Signed by 56 delegates, the Declaration reads, "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."

The Declaration concludes, "And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm Reliance on the Protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor."