Skies were gray, but mood was bright at Monterey Fourth of July parade

Monterey >> The sky was gray. The mood was bright. The red, white and blue was proudly displayed.

Monterey's Fourth of July parade Tuesday brought smiles to faces and plenty of cheers from people watching it. There were musical groups, theatrical groups, dancers, fire engines and politicians.

The city was among many celebrating American Independence Day across the nation. In Monterey, there was evidence of the many freedoms Americans embrace, including freedom of speech.

Among the crowd were attendees carrying signs that read "Liberty and justice for all," "Your vote is your voice" and "Let freedom ring."

Congressman Jimmy Panetta, D-Carmel Valley, rode in a convertible. "It's good to be home," the 20th District representative said. He said Congress is getting things done and that he had voted for a number of bills recently, including those to help military veterans.

Members of the Monterey Pacific Rotary Club were holding ropes on two large helium balloons: the Summer of Love octopus and heart.

Asked how she got the job helping to hold the octopus, club member Sandie Borthwick said, "I drew the short straw." She was among eight holding the balloon. "It's great fun," she said.

The Monterey Community Band was waiting in the lineup on Hartnell Street, sitting in a truck bed and on a trailer. One male member was playing a red plastic trumpet with a few brass fittings.

Asked how the tone compared to a brass trumpet, he said, "It's darker. It takes a little more air to blow through it. I just ate six donuts, so I don't know how it's going to work out."

The band joined in as the Monterey Pipe Band warmed up with a rendition of "Scotland The Brave."

Members of several camps of the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War marched in Civil War-era uniforms. All members are descendants of Civil War Veterans. The Commodore Sloat Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution gave out small American flags to parade watchers.

Firefighters in a fire engine from the Cal Fire Pebble Beach station handed out plastic red fire hats and red bracelets to children.

Donald Trump supporters from Californians for Making America Great Again were among those entered in the parade. They were followed by Women's International League for Peace and Freedom.

Bellydancers, roller derby girls, Girl Scouts, drummers, buglers, and the cast of California Repertory Theater production of "Peter Pan" also were represented.

Bringing up the rear were entertainers from First Night Monterey.

After the parade ended, people made their way to the lawn in front of Colton Hall for the annual Big Little Backyard Bar-Be-Que. Pacific Street was closed down and lined with bounce houses, food booths and game booths.

The Democratic Party had a tent right next to the Republican Party. There were life-size cutouts of President Donald Trump and former President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama. You could register to vote at either tent.

The Friends of the Monterey Library held their annual Fourth of July book sale. People were snapping up hardbacks, paperbacks, children's books, DVDs and CDs.

"We like to be out here because there's so many people," said Linda Cruzan of the friends group.

Larry Choates of the Ord Market in Marina was tending a barbecue piled high with pork ribs. "We've also got tri-tip, chicken, pies, beans and hot links," he said.

Children's games included the Patriotic Bean Bag Toss, Rollin' Bowlin' and Flip a Chicken.

The object of Flip a Chicken was to hit a catapult with a hammer and try to flip a rubber chicken into a basket. It appeared to be almost as popular as the barbecued variety.