Thousands attend Morgan Hill Fourth of July parade

MORGAN HILL, Calif. (KGO) -- The Morgan Hill Independence Day parade is a big deal, so much so that people start to put out their chairs months in advance.

This year's parade theme is "America's National Parks, 100 years and counting." They're honoring Morgan Hill's and Santa Clara County's fire service personnel as well as the firefighters across the country.

Organizers expected 50,000 people to attend this year. The parade began around 10 a.m. Tuesday.

About 2,500 participants are in the parade, along with nine bands, 40 horses, 24 floats, and all kinds of other groups marching.

Some of them started leaving their chairs out here in May for the mile-plus route. Some even blocked off their spots with caution tape or chain them together.

"If you don't put your chair out for a couple of days, you're basically left standing, and that's not a lot of fun," one parade watcher said.

LIST: Bay Area 4th of July fireworks and festivities

The parade is one of the oldest Fourth of July traditions in California going back to 1876.

Morgan Hill Police said it was perfectly legal for people to leave chairs along the route, but not on the median of Monterey Road parade day.

There is more fun planned for the evening at the Morgan Hill outdoor sports center starting at five p.m. with music, food and fireworks.

Want to know what the weather will be like here for the Fourth of July? Click here for the latest AccuWeather forecast.