The hometown celebration started on Sunday, July 2, with the Big Band sound of the Mike Henebry Orchestra, starting at 7 p.m. in Memorial Park band shell.

On Monday, July 3, The Sheds opened up the evening at 5 p.m., and The Aluminum Marshmallow, with music from the ‘60s and ‘70s, followed at 6 p.m.  (photos and video coming soon) Several nonprofit groups opened their food stands on Monday evening at 5pm (photos coming soon), and the beer garden was open also.

On Tuesday, July 4, Woman’s Club members hosted their annual sing-along and breakfast at Essick House on the corner of Sierra Madre Boulevard and Sunnyside. (photos and video of singalong coming soon)

The Fourth of July Parade, featuring about 100 entries, started at that corner beginning at 10 a.m. Parade Marshals Toni Buckner and Judy Webb-Martin led the parade with Barbara Wamboldt, honorary Parade Marshal.  Buckner and Webb-Martin are co-chairs of the Centennial Committee that is preparing for Sierra Madre’s 100-year birthday celebration in 2007. Wamboldt is an outstanding educator who retired from Sierra Madre School this year.

The Parade lasted until about 11:30 a.m. when all activities began in Memorial Park. Civic Club led many old-fashioned games such as sack races and balloon tosses on the south lawn of the park (photos coming soon) while food and beer were available for sale in the park.

At noon, the Night Blooming Jazzmen started their concert under the shade trees on the east side of the band shell (photos and video coming soon).