We’re less than a week away from America’s Independence Day and there’s probably a lot going through your head: “What are my plans? What’s everyone doing for fun? What even happens in Santa Clarita on the Fourth of July?”

Well, the Santa Clarita Valley Fourth of July Parade in the morning and fireworks at night, and other fun activities along the way.

“Why should I get up early on my day off to watch a parade?” you ask.

Here are ten reasons why:

1. Who, what, when, why & how?

The Santa Clarita Valley Fourth of July Parade is a community tradition with 3,000 participants and more than 25,000 spectators lining the streets of Old Town Newhall to celebrate America’s independence.

The Santa Clarita Valley Fourth of July Parade is put on by a nonprofit committee that cares so much about patriotism and our community that its members volunteer their time — and a lot of it– to get this parade rolling (cue the “awws”).

The parade begins at 9 a.m. at the roundabout at Newhall Avenue and Main Street. It runs north on Main Street and then makes a left onto Lyons Avenue. Then it hangs a right onto Orchard Village Road. Finally, it ends at 16th Street and that’s it!

Here’s a map:

2. Parking is easier than ever.

If you’ve traveled to Old Town Newhall in the past few years, you’ve probably noticed that parking was tight.

Have no fear this year: The city of Santa Clarita just completed a 370-space parking structure at the corner of Railroad Avenue and 9th Street. You can also park in some of the public parking areas around Newhall, including the Old Town Newhall Library, the Newhall Metrolink Station parking lots, and at the Newhall Community Center.

If you want to avoid traffic altogether, try to carpool, use a rideshare app such as Uber or Lyft, use public transportation, ride a bike, or walk.

However, don’t try to park near William S. Hart Park or 16th Street. They’re staging areas and parking is not allowed.

3. There are a few different ways to watch the parade.

All of the local media (SCVTV Community Media Center, SCV Signal Newspaper, KHTS Radio and The Magazine of Santa Clarita) cover the parade in their own unique way.

SCVTV is your place for full LIVE video coverage via Spectrum 20, AT&T U-Verse 99, SCVTV.com, and new this year, Facebook Live.

Tune into SCVTV to see the parade from all angles including exclusive interviews, float-by-float announcing and a multi-camera production.

If you can’t make it to the parade, tune in from your sofa!

SCVTV will be rebroadcasting the parade at 8 p.m. on July 4 and at various times in the days to follow.

Pro-tip: Follow the Santa Clarita Valley Fourth of July Parade Facebook page for the livestream link and all the info you’ll ever need. (You’re welcome.)

4. Do you like pancakes? Secret-recipe coffee? We’ve got the event for you.

For the past 52 years, the Rotary Club of Santa Clarita Valley members have woken up bright and early to serve pancakes, sausage and their secret Cowboy Coffee recipe to our community before the parade.

All of the breakfast deliciousness costs only $5 per person and that money goes to local charities.

They’ll be set up in the parking lot of the former Roger Dunn building on Main Street at 24200 Main St., Santa Clarita, California 91321 from 6:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.

Find out more here.

5. Do you like running? So does the Santa Clarita Runners Club

If you don’t fall into a food coma after the Pancake breakfast, you can go run it off with the Santa Clarita Runners in the Independence Day Classic 5k/10k.

The 5k begins at 8 a.m. and runs along the Fourth of July Parade route while the 10k begins at 7 a.m. and runs along the South Fork Trail.

There’s also a Kids K and non-competitive walk — if those are more your style.

All routes begin at Newhall Memorial Park at 24933 Newhall Avenue, Newhall, CA 91321

Proceeds from the event benefit Hart District cross-country teams and other local charities.

Register here.

6. This year’s Grand Marshal is Fred Trueblood III, and this year’s parade honors his mother — who may have been one of the most empowering SCV woman ever.

Bobbie Trueblood Davis was born in England and met a U.S. soldier named Fred Trueblood Jr., a son of the owner-editor of the Newhall Signal and Saugus Enterprise (now the Santa Clarita Valley Signal newspaper).

The Signal, 7-6-1973

Bobbie arrived in Santa Clarita just as William S. Hart died (yes, the silent movie legend). She also worked on her first SCV Fourth of July Parade the same month she got hitched.

During one parade, “the centerpiece was Bobbie in a flowing white dress,” according to her good friend, Ruth Newhall, who owned the Signal newspaper after the Trueblood family did. Bobbie was “carried on high on a litter borne by six volunteer Rotarians and waving, on a single staff, the Stars and Stripes and England’s Union Jack.”

In her obituary, SCVTV & Parade Committee President Leon Worden deemed her “a force unto her own.” She was known around town as “Mrs. Republican” for her leadership of the Republican Women’s Federated and other clubs, as well as her work for Assemblyman Newt Russell, State Sen. Ed Reinecke, Assemblyman Bob Cline and state Sen. Ed Davis, whom she married four years after her husband, Trueblood Jr., died.

Bobbie became the first employee of Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital, helped get the Boys and Girls Club Benefit Auction off the ground in 1972, presided over the first meeting in 1975 of the SCV Historical Society, is credited with naming St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church in Newhall and was named “Woman of the Year” in 1972.

And here’s the clincher: Bobbie participated in 50 consecutive Newhall Fourth of July Parades. She’s the only person ever to do so.

We lost Bobbie last December. She was 93. She is survived by her four children, five grandchildren, three great-grandchildren, her brother and his children.

7. The parade tradition is probably older than you are.

Since 1932, the all-volunteer parade has brought together families and community members from all walks of life for a common purpose: to celebrate America’s Independence.

This 87-year-old tradition is one that thousands of families converge to annually. (Yes, we know the math doesn’t add up — some parades were not consecutive).

8. The nitty-gritty

Safety is incredibly important to the parade committee. When you have cars, horses, marchers, motorcycles, bicycles, thousands of people, traffic, lots of things can go wrong.

Thankfully, you’re reading this article. (And we have lots of nice organizers, law enforcement, firefighters and paramedics who keep things in line).

Some quick tips:
Don’t drink alcohol (Seriously, it’s 9 a.m. and already 100 degrees — bad idea)
Wear helmets — It’s the law (at least for kids, but it keeps adult brains safe, too.)
Don’t throw anything. Not even water, flags, candy, balls, gifts, etc.
No spraying silly spring or any other substances. It scares the horses, makes a mess and results in less patriotic fun.
Bring water. It’s going to be hot and it’s better to stay hydrated than take a trip to the emergency room.

But wait a minute. “If it’s against the law to use Silly String in the parade,” you ask (and it is), “then why do vendors sell it along the parade route?”

Because the city, much less the parade committee, can’t regulate a product that is legal for everyone to own. The city can only regulate “use” (which it does). You can possess it, you just can’t use it along the parade route.

For a full list of parade rules, click here.

9. Parade participants get judged… in a good way.

The theme of the 2017 Santa Clarita Fourth of July Parade is “It’s a Grand Old Flag.” Regardless of whether you are competing for the Best of Theme trophy, parade entries should strive to reflect the theme in some way.

Even in the individual categories, judges will be weighing each entry’s reflection of the theme when they make their decisions. (Also, the judges tend to look and listen for entrants to incorporate music, particularly patriotic music, in some way — whether “live” or “canned.”)

Winners are announced at The Main at 12:30 p.m.

10. After the parade: FIREWORKS

The City of Santa Clarita Fireworks show will be held at the Westfield Valencia Town Center. The fireworks shoot off the tops of the parking lot roof near Buca De Beppo around 9:20 p.m.

Stevenson Ranch also usually has a fireworks show.
Pro-tip: All fireworks are illegal in Los Angeles County and Santa Clarita. That includes sparklers, bottle rockets, roman candles, cherry bombs and mortars.

Humane-tip: Fireworks can cause dogs to run away, veterans with PTSD to feel anxiety and can cause devastating fires. Leave the show to the pros.

From the SCVTV Community Media Center crew and the Santa Clarita Valley Fourth of July Parade Committee, have a safe and fun Fourth of July!