Fourth of July fun included a proposal at West Beach in Santa Barbara

Thousands of families staked out spots on Santa Barbara’s West Beach to wait for the fireworks show.

They enjoyed surf, sand, jolly jumpers and the company of friends before a 20 minute show set to music.

There was also love in the air. LAPD officer Sonia Rodriguez popped the question with a pear shaped diamond. Her girlfriend Joanna Ramos said, “yes.”

While one couple got engaged another celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary in Santa Barbara where they honeymooned, too.

People also dressed up in red, white and blue. Marcella Johnson Franklin wore the same sparkly hat she wore while serving with the Army Corps of Engineers in Iraq. The Carpinteria resident said her husband, Sgt. Morris Franklin, just left on a 400-day deployment for Operation Enduring Freedom. They met in Baghdad.

After the fun-filled day people cleaned up the beach and headed home, planning to return to celebrate in the same spot next July 4th.