Parades, Pancakes, and Parties Promote Patriotism on the 4th

Parades and patriotism could be found in many neighborhoods on this Independence Day. One of the biggest celebrations took place on State Street in Santa Barbara for the annual 4th of July parade.It featured military entries, a Corvette club, scooters, marching bands and young scouts carrying “Old Glory.”One family came down from the bay area to see the parade for the fourth year in a row. “This tops San Francisco for sure,” said Marianne Barlow who is a UC Santa Barbara graduate and brings her family back to Santa Barbara annually. The Barlow family all wore stars and stripes hats and waved flags.In Montecito, the firefighters served up a hearty pancake breakfast to residents who came out for the annual event and a tour of the station house. Children also came away with souvenir helmets and pictures in the fire engines. “We never really know how many have come through until we’ve counted the tickets but yes it seems like it grows every year,” said Chief Chip Hickman.Not far away was the Montecito Association’s Fourth of July parade which spans about a block in between two park areas. “You know it’s an old fashioned parade and its got kids, and bikes, and dogs and firetrucks,” said Dana Newquist who was dressed as Uncle Sam. He said he thought it might be the world’s shortest parade, pointing from the start to the end and saying, “it goes from here down to there.” KEY News Senior Reporter John Palminteri has the story.