Posts Tagged ‘alameda’

Hey! It’s the Fourth! Here are the best of the local celebrations.

City of Alameda’s 4th of July Parade

This fantastic old-fashioned parade has a long, long route and plenty of low-tech flash: horses, people in costume, marching bands. The parade is followed by Jumpin’ & Jivin’ Jubilee, a party for families in a local park.

When: Sun., 7/4, parade starts at 10am, Jubilee starts at 4pm; All ages; Free.

Where: Parade winds from Park and Otis to Webster and Lincoln, spots are available all along the street; myalamedaparade.com.

Fourth of July Waterfront Celebration

Big booms on the waterfront lead to (usually) colored fog. A party with music, food, and kid fun precedes the fireworks.

When: Sun., 7/4, 3-9:30pm (Fireworks begin at 9:30pm); All ages; Free.

Where: Pier 39, Embarcadero (at Grant Street), San Francisco; pier39.com.

4th of July at Berkeley Marina

Cool child-oriented celebration-before-fireworks emphasizes live performers (dancers, jugglers), and is held adjoining Adventure Playground, open until 8pm and the site of much cheerful sawing and hammering.

When: Sun., 7/4, noon-10pm; All Ages; Free.

Where: Berkley Marina, Marina Boulevard (at University Avenue), Berkeley; anotherbullwinkelshow.com.

An East Bay school district made national news this week when the Alameda Board of Education voted to replace a curriculum that emphasized tolerance for gay people with a more general lesson about bullying.

The original lesson, a.k.a. “Lesson 9,” became a hot topic due to the national controversy over gay marriage, and became an extremely divisive issue amongst East Bay Parents, sparking weeks of intense meetings, and a lawsuit. Gay parents hoped that Lesson 9 would prevent their children getting grief, while other parents argued that elementary school children aren’t old enough to learn about gay issues.

The new curriculum agreed upon by the board will include six children’s books that talk about stereotypes and how they hurt people, including gays.

A dozen Alameda families sued the school district earlier this year, contending that parents should be notified in advance of the gay-tolerant lessons, so their kids can be excused. The judge in the case sided with the district, ruling that a state law that allows parents to “opt-out” of discussions about human sexuality was not applicable to Lesson 9.

The Glorious Fourth edition! Use yourself up on the fireworks and festivities, take the rest of the weekend off.

Fourth of July Waterfront Celebration

You never know, this could be the year when there’s no fog and you can actually see the fireworks. Before the big booms begin, come down for live music, food, and kiddie activities.

When: Fri., 7/4, 2-10pm (Fireworks begin at 9:30pm); All ages; Free.

Where: Pier 39, Embarcadero (at Grant Street), San Francisco; pier39.com.

4th of July Jumpin’ & Jivin’ Jubilee

A sweet holiday celebration for smaller kids, the Jubilee features crafts, bounce houses, and obstacle course to get little legs tired. Come early to watch Alameda’s old-fashioned Fourth parade, which begins at 8am a few blocks away from the Jubilee site.

When: Sat., 7/4, noon-4pm; Age 5+; $10-20.

Where: Rittler Park, Otis Drive (at Grand Street), Alameda, ci.alameda.ca.us.

San Francisco Symphony at Shoreline Amphitheatre

Perhaps the fanciest and most relaxing of Bay Area Fourth options, this party includes kid-friendly music with simulcast fireworks that you can watch from a seat or from a blanket on the lawn.

When: Sat., 7/4, 8pm; Age 3+; $15-29.50 ($17.50 for four seats on the lawn).

Where: Shoreline Amphitheatre, One Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, 650-967-3000; livenation.com.

Old-Fashioned Independence Day Celebration

Celebrate the Fourth by taking up the pastimes of a bygone century at this fest, with patriotic and fiddle music, and games, contests, and races including a pie-eating competition, egg tosses, and a watermelon-seed-spitting match.

When: Sat., 7/4, 10am-4pm; Age 3+: Free-$7.

Where: Ardenwood Historic Farm, 34600 Ardenwood Boulevard (at Newark Boulevard), Fremont, 510-796-0663, ebparks.org.