Buellton celebrated Independence Day on Saturday afternoon with a 12-vehicle parade that rolled through city streets bellowing patriotic music and participants merrily tossing candy to flag-waving onlookers clad in red, white and blue.
The motorcade of festively bedecked vehicles launched from River View Park and slowly wound through local neighborhoods for kids and parents to enjoy from the comfort of their front yards. Â
In response to the cancellation of Solvang's annual fireworks show and Fourth of July Parade due to safety concerns surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, Buelltonites initiated the pared-down celebration to commemorate the holiday.
Photos: Officially patriotic, 'unofficial' 4th of July parade in Buellton
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Updated
Jul 4, 2020
Fourth of July parade through Buellton on Saturday afternoon.
Len Wood Staff
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Updated
Jul 4, 2020
Buellton Mayor Holly Sierra and her husband Frank get ready to lead the city Fourth of July parade through on Saturday afternoon.
Len Wood Staff
070420 Buellton 4th of July pic8.jpg
Updated
Jul 7, 2020
Fourth of July parade through Buellton on Saturday afternoon.
Len Wood Staff
070420 Buellton 4th of July pic9.jpg
Updated
Jul 4, 2020
Fourth of July parade through Buellton on Saturday afternoon.
Len Wood Staff
070420 Buellton 4th of July pic10.jpg
Updated
Jul 4, 2020
Fourth of July parade through Buellton on Saturday afternoon.
Len Wood Staff
070420 Buellton 4th of July pic11.jpg
Updated
Jul 4, 2020
Fourth of July parade through Buellton on Saturday afternoon.
Len Wood Staff
070420 Buellton 4th of July pic13.jpg
Updated
Jul 4, 2020
Fourth of July parade through Buellton on Saturday afternoon.
Len Wood Staff
070420 Buellton 4th of July pic4.jpg
Updated
Jul 4, 2020
Paula Albrecht, right, helps her granddaughter Boe Caplan decorate her jeep for the Fourth of July parade through Buellton on Saturday afternoon.
Len Wood Staff
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Updated
Jul 4, 2020
Fourth of July parade through Buellton on Saturday afternoon.
Len Wood Staff
070420 Buellton 4th of July pic6.jpg
Updated
Aug 12, 2020
Fourth of July parade through Buellton on Saturday afternoon.
Len Wood Staff
070420 Buellton 4th of July pic1.jpg
Updated
Jul 7, 2020
Mark Signa and his dinosaur T-Roy wave during a Fourth of July parade through Buellton on Saturday afternoon.
Len Wood, Staff
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Updated
Jul 7, 2020
Residents ride in a Fourth of July parade on Farmland Drive in Buellton on Saturday afternoon.
Len Wood, Staff
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Updated
Jul 7, 2020
Fourth of July parade watchers wave to cars on Farmland Drive in Buellton on Saturday afternoon.
Len Wood, Staff
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070420 4th of July at Pismo Beach 02.jpg
The streets and sidewalks of Pismo Beach were filled early with those looking to celebrate 4th of July
070420 4th of July at Pismo Beach 03.jpg
Wearing patriotic designs sisters Serenity and Ameenah Sutton and their parents beat the Bakersfield heat by spending the 4th of July in Pismo Beach
070420 4th of July at Pismo Beach 04.jpg
Friends Courtnery and Erin of Fresno enjoy local take-out food while sitting on a boardwalk bench on the 4th of July in Pismo Beach
070420 4th of July at Pismo Beach 05.jpg
Matthew and Ryan Miller drove from Clovis to spend a pleasant 4th of July afternoon Pismo Beach
070420 4th of July at Pismo Beach 07.jpg
These young men wear appropriate face coverings while waiting for a table at a local restaurant in Pismo Beach on the 4th of July
070420 4th of July at Pismo Beach 06.jpg
Beachgoers from around California took to the sands of Pismo Beach to celebrate the 4th of July on one of the few open beaches in Southern CaliforniaÂ
070420 4th of July at Pismo Beach 08.jpg
Shannon Ryan McIlvain takes advantage of the light breeze by flying a kite on the 4th of July in Pismo Beach
070420 4th of July at Pismo Beach 09.jpg
Homes in Pismo Beach chose different ways to decorate on the 4th of July
070420 4th of July at Pismo Beach 10.jpg
Most visitors to Pismo Beach on the 4th of July respected social distancing and use of face masks
070420 4th of July at Pismo Beach 11.jpg
The boardwalk at Pismo Beach was very active on Saturday afternoon as locals and visitors celebrated the 4th of July
070420 4th of July at Pismo Beach 12.jpg
One couple took advantage of the Pismo Pier to enjoy some quiet time in the shade on the 4th of July in Pismo Beach
070420 4th of July at Pismo Beach 13.jpg
Pismo boardwalk on the 4th of July in Pismo Beach
070420 4th of July at Pismo Beach 14.jpg
Crowds filled the sidewalks on the 4th of July in Pismo Beach
070420 4th of July at Pismo Beach 15.jpg
These young ladies make their way to the beach from the boardwalk in Pismo Beach
070420 4th of July at Pismo Beach 16.jpg
Families gathered on Pismo Beach Saturday even though the traditional fireworks show was cancelled
070420 4th of July at Pismo Beach 17.jpg
Families gathered on Pismo Beach to take advantage of the pleasant weather on the 4th of July
070420 4th of July at Pismo Beach 18.jpg
The McIlvain family of San Jose admire a few kites soaring above the sand on the 4th of July in Pismo Beach
070420 4th of July at Pismo Beach 19.jpg
Ben McIlvain has a turn with a kite on the 4th of July in Pismo Beach
070420 4th of July at Pismo Beach 01.jpg
Brothers Decklan and Quinn McIlvain celebrate the Fourth of July on the sands of Pismo Beach on Saturday. The McIlvain family left their home in San Jose on Friday night for a holiday weekend stay in Santa Barbara, only to be told the beaches there had been closed. So they promptly packed up and headed to San Luis Obispo County to celebrate their day at the beach.
070420 4th of July at Pismo Beach 22.jpg
These campers at Pismo Coach Village RV Park show off their decorated bicycles following a small in-park parade on the 4th of July
070420 4th of July at Pismo Beach 21.jpg
Visitors to Pismo Beach took advantage of the only open beach for hundreds of miles on the 4th of July
070420 4th of July at Pismo Beach 02.jpg
The streets and sidewalks of Pismo Beach were filled early with those looking to celebrate 4th of July
070420 4th of July at Pismo Beach 03.jpg
Wearing patriotic designs sisters Serenity and Ameenah Sutton and their parents beat the Bakersfield heat by spending the 4th of July in Pismo Beach
070420 4th of July at Pismo Beach 04.jpg
Friends Courtnery and Erin of Fresno enjoy local take-out food while sitting on a boardwalk bench on the 4th of July in Pismo Beach
070420 4th of July at Pismo Beach 05.jpg
Matthew and Ryan Miller drove from Clovis to spend a pleasant 4th of July afternoon Pismo Beach
070420 4th of July at Pismo Beach 07.jpg
These young men wear appropriate face coverings while waiting for a table at a local restaurant in Pismo Beach on the 4th of July
070420 4th of July at Pismo Beach 06.jpg
Beachgoers from around California took to the sands of Pismo Beach to celebrate the 4th of July on one of the few open beaches in Southern CaliforniaÂ
070420 4th of July at Pismo Beach 08.jpg
Shannon Ryan McIlvain takes advantage of the light breeze by flying a kite on the 4th of July in Pismo Beach
070420 4th of July at Pismo Beach 09.jpg
Homes in Pismo Beach chose different ways to decorate on the 4th of July
070420 4th of July at Pismo Beach 10.jpg
Most visitors to Pismo Beach on the 4th of July respected social distancing and use of face masks
070420 4th of July at Pismo Beach 11.jpg
The boardwalk at Pismo Beach was very active on Saturday afternoon as locals and visitors celebrated the 4th of July
070420 4th of July at Pismo Beach 12.jpg
One couple took advantage of the Pismo Pier to enjoy some quiet time in the shade on the 4th of July in Pismo Beach
070420 4th of July at Pismo Beach 13.jpg
Pismo boardwalk on the 4th of July in Pismo Beach
070420 4th of July at Pismo Beach 14.jpg
Crowds filled the sidewalks on the 4th of July in Pismo Beach
070420 4th of July at Pismo Beach 15.jpg
These young ladies make their way to the beach from the boardwalk in Pismo Beach
070420 4th of July at Pismo Beach 16.jpg
Families gathered on Pismo Beach Saturday even though the traditional fireworks show was cancelled
070420 4th of July at Pismo Beach 17.jpg
Families gathered on Pismo Beach to take advantage of the pleasant weather on the 4th of July
070420 4th of July at Pismo Beach 18.jpg
The McIlvain family of San Jose admire a few kites soaring above the sand on the 4th of July in Pismo Beach
070420 4th of July at Pismo Beach 19.jpg
Ben McIlvain has a turn with a kite on the 4th of July in Pismo Beach
070420 4th of July at Pismo Beach 01.jpg
Brothers Decklan and Quinn McIlvain celebrate the Fourth of July on the sands of Pismo Beach on Saturday. The McIlvain family left their home in San Jose on Friday night for a holiday weekend stay in Santa Barbara, only to be told the beaches there had been closed. So they promptly packed up and headed to San Luis Obispo County to celebrate their day at the beach.
070420 4th of July at Pismo Beach 22.jpg
These campers at Pismo Coach Village RV Park show off their decorated bicycles following a small in-park parade on the 4th of July
070420 4th of July at Pismo Beach 21.jpg
Visitors to Pismo Beach took advantage of the only open beach for hundreds of miles on the 4th of July
Solvang's "unofficial parade" will take place this Saturday at 11 a.m., and will feature a number of Flat Fender club Jeeps and other military vehicles, as well as roving guests the local Model A car club.
All Santa Barbara County beaches will be closed over the Fourth of July weekend to limit the spread of COVID-19, the Santa Barbara County Health Department announced Thursday in a reversal of a decision earlier this week.
Lisa André covers Valley Life for Santa Ynez Valley News.Â
