Pleasanton will continue its tradition of celebrating Independence Day with a free, old-fashioned family picnic and concert in Lions Wayside Park from 1-2:30 p.m. on Tuesday, July 4.
“Let Freedom Ring!” will be the theme this year, with the Pleasanton Family Bells performing as a bell choir along with the Pleasanton Community Concert Band.
Bell ringers from four families will be chiming in with the band, which is under the direction of Bob Williams.
Adding local color to the event will be three costumed performers: Vocalist Ward Belding as Uncle Sam; Poet Laureate Emeritus Kirk Ridgeway in Colonial garb, presenting an original performance poem; and Ormond Eckley in costume as General Pleasonton, the historic figure for whom the town was named (before a clerical error changed the spelling). The husband and wife team of B. Dana and Chris Lindstrom also will sing, with Skip Marell serving as the master of ceremonies.
Audience members are being encouraged to wear red, white and blue in their outfits and to bring along their own lawn chairs or blankets. The Pleasanton Lions Club will provide free hand-held American flags to the first 400 to arrive. The Lions also will again be offering their popular bargain lunch of hot dogs and sodas or water for $1 starting at 12:30 p.m. Free patriotic face “tattoos” for children will be offered.
This will be the eighth year that a small group of volunteers has organized the Fourth of July celebration. Founder and producer W. Ron Sutton dubbed the event “Celebrating Freedom and its Evolution since the Revolution.”
This year’s focus will be on the Liberty Bell, with previous year’s themes focused on the Declaration of Independence, Bill of Rights, Constitution and Gettysburg Address.
The music at this annual event is part of the Friday night’s “Concerts in the Park” series under the auspices of the Pleasanton Downtown Association, and is sponsored by Sutton’s company, ACCUSPLIT of Pleasanton, the Bank of Walnut Creek, Raley’s Supermarket and the Lions Club.
