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Pismo, Arroyo set to celebrate Fourth of July

By April Charlton/Senior Staff Writer/acharlton@theadobepresss.com

Whether you’re looking for an old-fashioned, patriotic Fourth of July celebration or a day at the beach complete with live entertainment and a public fireworks display, the Five Cities has a little something for everyone on Independence Day.

Those planning to watch the sky light up Saturday night over the end of Pismo Pier had better stake out a spot on the beach early in the day, according to the Chamber of Commerce, which sponsors the annual event.

The chamber’s Fourth of July extravaganza draws about 30,000 people to the pier and surrounding beach area to watch the yearly fireworks display, which is the only holiday fireworks show in the Five Cities area.

Local band Moon Pie will kick off the Independence Day festivities in Pismo with a free concert at 1 p.m., followed by Sean Wiggins and Lone Goat at 3:30 p.m. Vendors selling food and drink will open booths at 1 p.m.

Just prior to the fireworks show at 9:15 p.m., the United States Air Force Band of the Golden West will perform, according to the Chamber of Commerce.

City officials will begin closing downtown streets — Cypress Street to Hinds Avenue— at noon, and at 1 p.m. Pomeroy Avenue to Cypress also will be closed, according to the Pismo Beach Police Department.

The pier parking lot will be closed at 4 p.m., and all cars must be removed from the lot at that time.

Those attending the show are being advised to carpool, park in areas away from the downtown core and walk to the pier area, police officials said.

“Every (parking) spot downtown is going to be gone,” said Pismo Police Cmdr. Mark Miller.

After the show, vehicles will be moved out of Pismo via a limited number of exits, including Ocean View Avenue to Highway 1 east, and motorists are asked to be patient.

The California Highway Patrol also is expected to close the southbound Highway 101 Highway 1 offramp after the fireworks show, Miller said.

In Grover Beach, police are asking people planning to watch the show from the beach at the end of West Grand Avenue to park on city streets and walk to the beach.

The fireworks display also can be viewed from areas of Pismo State Beach and the Oceano Dunes State Vehicular Recreation Area. However, State Parks officials plan to close the beach as soon as day-use capacity is reached.

Arroyo Grande will celebrate July 4 with an old-fashioned picnic complete with hot dogs, lemonade and ice cream, and a free Village Band concert at the Rotary Bandstand.

Festivities are scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. with the free, 30-member Village Band performance. Attendees are encouraged to bring lawn chairs and blankets to the show, according to organizers.

South County Historical Society members will be selling hot dogs, ice cream and lemonade, and members of Arroyo Grande in Bloom will once again hand out gifts, according to organizers.

The event is sponsored by the Arroyo Grande Village Improvement Association. For more information, visit www.arroyogrande

village.org.

All fireworks are illegal in Pismo Beach and all areas of the sand through the Oceano Dunes State Vehicular Recreation Area and State Beach area.

So-called “safe and sane” fireworks are only legal in Arroyo Grande, Grover Beach and Oceano.

The Arroyo Grande Fire Department will have at least two units patrolling on the evening of July 4 and early morning hours of July 5 looking for illegal and illegally used fireworks.

Fines for confiscated, illegal fireworks can reach as high as $5,000, officials said.

July 3, 2009