News Briefs: San Francisco 4th of July parade returns

Returning for its second year Friday is the San Francisco Fourth of July parade along the city’s newest park fronting Ocean Beach. It is expected to draw greater political focus along with the pomp and patriotic fervor of participants celebrating the country’s founding.

The annual holiday commemorates the Second Continental Congress ratifying the the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, thus establishing the United States of America. As San Francisco had no official parade to mark the day, gay District 4 Supervisor Joel Engardio helped launch one last summer.

It came as he was promoting a citywide ballot measure to shut down the Great Highway to car traffic and turn it into a city park. A majority of voters approved Proposition K last November, and the newly christened Sunset Dunes park officially opened to the public in the spring.

But most of Engardio’s constituents cast no votes on Prop K, not wanting to see their major commuting arterial roadway, which had been a part of Highway 1, be eliminated. Their anger at the outcome prompted a successful drive to put a recall of Engardio before voters of his Sunset district, which will take place on September 16.

While many expect Engardio to be removed from office, he is mounting a fierce campaign to keep his elected post. One part of his strategy is to emphasize the benefits, both recreationally and environmentally, of the new seaside promenade created by Prop K. The holiday parade is one way to do just that.

“The Fourth of July is an opportunity to celebrate our progress and ideals, while reflecting on the work we still have to do,” noted Engardio in a recent emailed invite for people to take part in the parade. “We can also embrace the line in the Declaration of Independence that talks about ‘the pursuit of happiness.’ That’s why San Francisco needs a Fourth of July parade. Let’s create a city - and a nation - where everyone has the opportunity to be happy and thrive.”

The parade begins at 12 p.m. Friday, July 4, at the Noriega Street entrance to Sunset Dunes and ends at the Kirkham Street entrance to the park. Marchers are invited to begin gathering at 11:30 a.m.

At the parade terminus will be bounce houses, face painting, live music, “bubble magic, and fresh apple pie,” according to the Friends of Sunset Dunes. As the booster group for the park notes, “nothing says freedom like fog, friendship, and fun by the beach.”

Engardio is bookending his week with parades. On Sunday, he joined his husband, Lionel Hsu, in the annual San Francisco Pride Parade to march and dance to the “fun tunes,” noted Engardio, of the Sunset Community Band as it played along the route on Market Street.

“Now more than ever we must support LGBTQ people under threat,” Engardio stated to the B.A.R. “That includes serious work while remaining joyful. Today’s San Francisco Pride Parade was about joy, and Sunset residents delivered with a 30-person brass band.”

The day prior, the Recall Joel Engardio campaign kicked off its summer festivities as it works to hold the supervisor “responsible,” noted organizers, “because District 4 deserves a supervisor who is accountable, transparent, and prioritizes our safety.” 

BART offers free parking on the 4th
Speaking of commute options, the regional transit system BART is offering free parking on July 4 at all of its stations, except the Milpitas and Berryessa/North San Jose stations. Those two South Bay stations are overseen by the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority.

BART will be operating on a reduced, Sunday schedule for the Fourth of July holiday. It will mirror its Sunday schedule, running five-line service Friday from 8 a.m. until 8 p.m. then three-line service until it shuts down for the day at midnight.

Five-line service means all of its lines will be running including the Green and Red lines that provide direct service into San Francisco from the East Bay. Extra trains may be added to help people return home from the city’s fireworks display, scheduled to take place over Fisherman’s Wharf and the Embarcadero at 9:30 p.m.  

According to the Port of San Francisco, other good viewing areas for the yearly free show in the sky are at Aquatic Park, Pier 39, and the Pier 43 walkway. It will last approximately 20 minutes.

Blood donors needed
Bay Area residents who meet the eligibility criteria to be blood donors are asked to do so this month, especially those with type O blood. Donating is vital to support patients undergoing surgeries, cancer treatments, and other medical procedures this summer, according to Vitalant.

Since 2023, under changes approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to make the donor screening process more equitable, gay and bi men are eligible to donate blood as long as they have not had anal sex in the last three months and aren’t taking an HIV prevention medication.

Those who donate at one of Vitalant’s blood drives through July 8 and opt in to its Donor Rewards program will receive a limited-edition T-shirt or tank. Plus, those who also use code SUMMER20-2025-V when scheduling their appointment will receive a $20 gift
card.

Among Vitalant’s blood drives taking place in early July is one at the San Mateo Main Library Monday, July 7. It will be held from 1 to 4 p.m. at the library, located at 55 West Third Avenue in San Mateo.

Next Tuesday, July 8, in San Francisco, a drive will be held from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the CPMC-Van Ness Campus at 1101 Van Ness Avenue. Also that day, in Oakland, a drive will be held from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at Jack London Square.  

For more information about those and other blood drives taking place, visit vitalant.org/SunsUpTee.

Assistant editor John Ferrannini contributed reporting.