4th of july

Redwood City celebrates 150th anniversary with 4th of July parade

By by Kate Larsen
Tuesday, July 4, 2017
In Redwood City, there was a battle of the bands on the Fourth of July. The city is celebrating its 150th anniversary with a big red, white and blue birthday.
REDWOOD CITY, Calif. (KGO) -- In Redwood City, there was a battle of the bands on the Fourth of July and the city is celebrating its 150th anniversary with a big red, white and blue birthday.

And what better way to get the party started than with a big parade.
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LIST: Bay Area 4th of July fireworks and festivities

The grand marshal of this year's parade is award-winning director-choreographer and Redwood City native Kenny Ortega, who helped create Disney's "High School Musical" franchise, along with many other hits.



Ortega credits his alma mater. "It was four years drama at Sequoia High School and music that really gave me the foundation that enabled me to move forward," he said.

Families were divided over one very loud competition at the parade -- the 18th Annual 4th of July Battle of the Bands to determine the best marching band, UC Davis or Stanford.
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PHOTOS: Bay Area 4th of July celebrations 2017
American flags wave on the Embarcadero on Tuesday, July 4, 2017.none
A woman on stilts poses with a couple attending the Shoreline Amphitheatre's Firework Spectacular on Tuesday, July 4, 2017.none
Karl the Fog envelops the San Francisco fireworks show on Tuesday, July 4, 2017.none
A man celebrates the 4th of July near San Francisco's Embarcadero.none
A large firework is seen in the sky in Mountain View, Calif. on Tuesday, July 4, 2017.none
Kids watch the 4th of July parade in Redwood City on Tuesday, July 4, 2017.none
Spectators enjoy the 4th of July parade in Vallejo, Calif. on Tuesday, July 4, 2017.none
Kids watch the 4th of July parade in Redwood City on Tuesday, July 4, 2017.none
Kids watch the 4th of July parade in Redwood City on Tuesday, July 4, 2017.none
The 4th of July Parade grand marshal was an autonomous bus in Concord, Calif. on Tuesday, July 4, 2017.none
A man rides a horse during the 4th of July parade in Concord, Calif. on Tuesday, July 4, 2017.none
The 4th of July Parade grand marshal was an autonomous bus in Concord, Calif. on Tuesday, July 4, 2017.none
A marching band plays during the 4th of July parade in Concord, Calif. on Tuesday, July 4, 2017.none
The Fourth of July parade is underway in Vallejo, Calif. on Tuesday, July 4, 2017.none
Spectators enjoy the 4th of July parade in Vallejo, Calif. on Tuesday, July 4, 2017.none
Kids watch the 4th of July parade in Redwood City on Tuesday, July 4, 2017.none
Kids watch the 4th of July parade in Redwood City on Tuesday, July 4, 2017.none
Spectators celebrate the Fourth of July at a parade in Vallejo, Calif. on Tuesday, July 4, 2017.none
Spectators celebrate the Fourth of July at a parade in Vallejo, Calif. on Tuesday, July 4, 2017.none
Spectators celebrate the Fourth of July at a parade in Vallejo, Calif. on Tuesday, July 4, 2017.none
Spectators celebrate the Fourth of July at a parade in Vallejo, Calif. on Tuesday, July 4, 2017.none
Spectators celebrate the Fourth of July at a parade in Vallejo, Calif. on Tuesday, July 4, 2017.none
Spectators celebrate the Fourth of July at a parade in Vallejo, Calif. on Tuesday, July 4, 2017.none
The Bay Area Sikhs of America walk in the Rose, White & Blue Parade in San Jose, Calif. on Tuesday, July 4, 2017.none
Spectators gather at the Rose White & Blue Parade in San Jose, Calif. on Tuesday, July 4, 2017.none
Spectators gather at the Rose White & Blue Parade in San Jose, Calif. on Tuesday, July 4, 2017.none
Spectators gather at the Rose White & Blue Parade in San Jose, Calif. on Tuesday, July 4, 2017.none
Spectators gather at the Rose White & Blue Parade in San Jose, Calif. on Tuesday, July 4, 2017.none
Spectators gather at the Rose White & Blue Parade in San Jose, Calif. on Tuesday, July 4, 2017.none
Spectators gather at the Rose White & Blue Parade in San Jose, Calif. on Tuesday, July 4, 2017.none
Spectators gather at the Rose White & Blue Parade in San Jose, Calif. on Tuesday, July 4, 2017.none
Spectators gather at the Independence Day Parade in Morgan Hill, Calif. on Tuesday, July 4, 2017.none
Spectators gather at the Independence Day Parade in Morgan Hill, Calif. on Tuesday, July 4, 2017.none
Spectators gather at the Independence Day Parade in Morgan Hill, Calif. on Tuesday, July 4, 2017.none
Spectators gather at the Independence Day Parade in Morgan Hill, Calif. on Tuesday, July 4, 2017.none
Spectators gather at the Independence Day Parade in Morgan Hill, Calif. on Tuesday, July 4, 2017.none
Spectators gather at the Independence Day Parade in Morgan Hill, Calif. on Tuesday, July 4, 2017.none
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Davis had the numbers but Stanford's tree and Wonderwoman packed a lot of punch.



"It's not just a day, a 4th of July day. The idea is serving each other," U.S. Marine Corps veteran George Silva said.

Amid the hoopla, leave it to the 40-year Marine Corps veteran to remind us what being American really means. "Let's get rid of the politics and remember we're all people," Silva said.
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Tuesday's endless parade of fun is ending with a bang. At 9:30 p.m., the fireworks start at the Port of Redwood City.

Click here for full Fourth of July coverage!


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