July 4th festivities planned

BY BENJAMIN GOTTLIEB
DAILY SOUND CORRESPONDENT

Fireworks will illuminate the sky above West Beach in two weeks, as local families and holiday enthusiasts alike will gather for the Santa Barbara Fourth of July Festival.

Co-hosted by the City of Santa Barbara and SPARKLE, the 9:30 p.m. event will showcase nearly 1500 different fireworks, elapsing for a total of 22.5 minutes. The employed fireworks company, Pyro Spectaculars, will also be providing the fireworks for the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China.
Food and refreshments will be offered along the waterfront throughout the day along Cabrillo Blvd. from 11:30 a.m. until the commencement of the fireworks display — the night’s events will be open to the public for free viewing.
In addition to the climactic fireworks display, SPARKLE’s 2008 Freedom Celebration will precede the event, providing live music from singer Becca Solodon, jazz troupe Ike Jenkins and the Monday Madness Jazz Band and singer Lisa LaVie.
According to City of Santa Barbara Municipal Code 15.16.220, the City encourages holiday aficionados to respect the event’s proceedings — restricted items include fireworks, alcohol, glass, pit digging, open fires and dogs. The City also requests people to walk, bike, take the bus or carpool to the waterfront to ease traffic.
In accordance with the holiday, Cabrillo Blvd. between Castillo Street and Calle Cesar Chavez will be shut down to all motor traffic no later than 6 p.m., however the City stresses that the motorway will be open as quickly as possible. Many streets in the waterfront area will rerouted to be one way or simply closed after 5 p.m.
The day’s proceedings will also include the 45th Annual Fourth of July Parade on State Street, beginning at 1 p.m., and a performance by both the Santa Barbara Symphony and Santa Barbara Choral Society at 5 p.m. at the Santa Barbara Courthouse.
More information on the day’s scheduling can be found on the City’s website at http://www.santabarbaraca.gov or by calling 805-564-5418.