Fourth of July in downtown Pleasanton

Downtown Pleasanton will be covered in stripes and stars this Fourth of July holiday with a packed and community-organized daytime celebration.

Held at Lions Wayside Park, “Celebrating Freedom and its Evolution since the Revolution” is set to take place next Tuesday (July 4) from noon to 1:30 p.m. The event is put on by an all-volunteer group looking to foster an environment of community for the holiday. Organizers have said this year’s main theme is “the past century”.

At the free outdoor celebration, visitors can enjoy live performances and activities related to Pleasanton and Independence Day.

The Pleasanton Community Concert Band, led by conductors Bob Williams and Mark Aubel, will perform live music from the past 100 years as well as several patriotic-themed songs.

Williams reflected on performing at the upcoming 2023 Fourth of July celebration and on his time in the band.

“I’ve loved being in this band. It’s been such a special way to bring together community members over the music we play. We put our all into each performance, every time,” Williams said.

Williams, who celebrated his 90th birthday earlier this year, has been a lifelong musician. He joined the Pleasanton Community Concert Band the year of its founding in 1975 as a principal horn player. In 1989, he took over as a conductor.

“We’re honored that people enjoy our shows as it is an honor to perform for them,” Williams said. “Our songs for this event will recognize military service members and the meaning of community.”

Over the past few decades, the group has regularly performed across the area for holidays and special events, including Independence Day in downtown.

Organizers urge audience members to bring their own chairs and blankets to Lions Wayside Park on Tuesday to sit on throughout the performances. Visitors are also encouraged to wear red, white and blue or other patriotic attire.

A new feature to this year’s event will be a children’s parade and performance of John Philip Sousa’s “Stars and Stripes Forever” at the celebration’s finale.

An armed forces salute featuring anthems from each branch of the military will take place as well. During the performance, past and current members of the military will be recognized and asked to stand during their respective branches’ songs.

Pleasanton resident and event founder, W. Ron Sutton, spoke about the celebration in a press statement.

“This will be the 23rd time that volunteers have put together ‘Celebrating Freedom and its Evolution since the Revolution’ for our community. On Independence Day, we celebrate our shared heritage with an old-fashioned Fourth,” Sutton said.

Sutton emphasized the importance of coming together for the holiday, despite social or political differences.

“Even if we disagree on July 5 on current politics, we will do so with our expected behaviors of respect, responsibility, compassion, honesty and integrity,” he said. “We celebrate living in a community of character.”

The Pleasanton Lions Club members will be offering a picnic lunch with a hot dog, chips and water for $3. Free handheld U.S. flags will be distributed to the first 300 visitors.

The event will also recognize this year’s Ed Kinney Community Patriots, Ken Mano and Todd Utikal. Created in 2005, the award honors the late Kinney, a past mayor and the first master of ceremonies for the Pleasanton Fourth of July celebration.

The emcee for the 2023 Fourth of July celebration will be resident Les Duman. Mayor Karla Brown will also deliver brief opening remarks.

Milestones of two local high schools, the centennial of Amador Valley High School and the 50th anniversary of Foothill High School, will be honored by speakers as well.

Local author Donna McMillion will make an appearance at the event. McMillion served as the lead editor-author for “Cruising Down Memory Lane”, a book of interviews from Pleasanton residents in the 1950s.

Proceeds from her book sales at the event will go toward the Amador journalism program.

Volunteers from the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars and the Boy Scouts will be assisting throughout the event.

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