RESIDENTS RELISH CHANCE TO PARTY
As county health leaders urge caution, waves of people attend holiday events
Los Angeles County residents were in a party mood Sunday, as restrictions brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic have eased in recent weeks.
The region’s Fourth of July events were as diverse as the people themselves, and most celebrations concluded Sunday evening with traditional fireworks shows.
Amid the revelry, officials warned that the coronavirus outbreak was far from over. After three straight days of new cases topping 500 in Los Angeles County, public health officials reported 457 new cases of the virus and four additional deaths Sunday.
Officials, while not discouraging people from gathering, promoted caution and common sense.
“We are grateful to everyone for the tremendous progress we have made over the past year, yet we are not out of the woods just yet,” Los Angeles County Department of Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer said in a statement. “If you are unvaccinated, consider getting your vaccination now to increase your protection as other public health precautions have been lifted. Vaccines provide us with the best tool for ending this pandemic that has plagued us for so many months.”
Officials also recommended wearing masks in large groups, especially indoors and when you don’t know the vaccination status of all those gathered.
On Sunday morning, myriad events officially made their comebacks, after nearly all were can cancelled during last summer’s COVID-19 spike.
Between 500 and 600 people participated in The Great American Kids’ Bike Parade in Long Beach. Families showed up with bikes, scooters, tricycles and other modes of transportation. The parade proceeded down the walking path set up on the beach, parallel to the water.
Before anyone began riding bikes, organizers held s Kid’s Patriotic Speech Contest and Kid’s Patriotic Costume Contest. Many of the participants read original speeches, and all participants in the costume contest received gift cards for meals from Raising Cane’s.
Also, a few pooches joined the costumed participants.
Justin Rudd, the longtime organizer of the event, said he was excited that people were able to gather this year, particularly because of the Fourth of July’s symbolism.
“It’s an opportunity for us to express our patriotism, oth the kids and their families,” he said.
Palos Verdes hosted a family-friendly concert in the park, with bounce houses alongside food trucks serving holiday fare such as barbecue and burgers. Kids could ride horses or pet animals at the petting zoo, and the Palos Verdes Symphonic Band played in the early afternoon. A Heart Tribute band was slated for later in the day.
Peninsula-area resident Brian Selzer enjoyed the event but said that, although many people were out, he didn’t think it felt like a normal Fourth of July.
“You still don’t know who is vaccinated and who isn’t,” said Selzer, who was wearing a mask. “I think it’s perfectly fine to be out here, but my family and I are still being cautious.”
In Simi Valley, people gathered in a park to listen to live music, peruse local vendors’ goods at a farmers market-like event and, eventually, watch a fireworks show. During the day, children played on a large playground, moving at super speeds down the slide and climbing ladders with their friends.
Rod Cordova, a member of local band Bad Habit, said he was happy to see people out in person because the group hadn’t played many live shows since the pandemic hit.
“We take in their energy and feed off that,” Cordova said. “It’s going to be great to have people up by the stage, dancing and singing along.”