The 2013 parade brought out tens of thousands of people waving their American flags and cheering on the floats, marching bands, and performers.
The event, themed Surf, Sun & Celebrate, included celebrity guests Lou Ferrigno, Nicole Eggert, Tim Conway Jr. and Gary Bryan.
The parade kicked off at 10 a.m. The annual event is a staple in the community, and serious parade-goers planned well in advance for the big day.
The parade has been a local tradition since 1904 and has grown over the years, becoming a well honored tradition in the community.
"Regardless of what culture you're from, everyone is proud to be an American," said Briana Devasier of Huntington Beach. "I'm proud to be here and celebrate with everyone that's here."
Area resident Tina Hernandez and her friends have been coming to the parade for nearly 20 years. Thursday morning, Hernandez was cooking up some eggs for breakfast, and she extended her cooking to anyone who was hungry.
For other parade-goers, the tradition includes their pets.
"It's got to be the dogs. There's just dogs everywhere, and they're all friendly. They all get along. It's just very festive," said Marty Fenyes, another Huntington Beach resident. "And they're all dressed up. You can't beat that."
Another thing that can't be beat is the sense of community - something people say they really appreciate on this day, when their big city feels more like a small town.
The day-long event includes food and entertainment at the pier. A fireworks show was also scheduled for 9 p.m.
To get information on road closures and other event details, you can call the July Fourth Hotline at (714) 374-1580.
Also, the city is providing a free shuttle for the holiday. It runs from 1 p.m. to 10 p.m. Thursday. The shuttle will run every 15 minutes from City Hall to Main and Orange streets. Parking at City Hall will be free.
To get more event information, visit www.hb4thofjuly.org.
