Ojai Independence Day success built on decades of commitment

Ojai Independence Day Committee Chair Bonnie Patton has been involved with the celebration for more than 50 years. As a kid, she remembers stapling together the pages of the parade program.

Her mother, Patricia Bushman, helped Ruth Melhorn organize the first Ojai Independence Day parade in 1963, Patton said. They were all volunteers. “We give our time because we want to create memories," she said. "We want it to be memory-making for all ages.”

This year’s celebration starts with a free Third of July concert at Libbey Bowl from 6:30 to 9 p.m., co-sponsored by the Rotary Club of Ojai West and emceed by Dr. Jim Halverson.

The concert includes the Vietnam Veterans of Ventura County serving as Color Guard, the Ojai Band performing patriotic music, and a special slideshow presentation showing scenes from across America.

The evening features a fun fundraiser that helps pay for Independence Day activities in Ojai, and the presentation of parade grand marshal and beloved community volunteer Patti Bagley. “She’s a pretty awesome person,” said Patton, “and we’re super-excited about her.”

Concert-goers are invited to bring their own picnic dinners and enjoy the music for free “because we want everybody to enjoy celebrating our great country,” Patton said.

But without donations from the community, there would be no parade or fireworks show, as the events are not city-funded, Patton said.

The budget for the entire celebration is $52,000, with the fireworks show at Ojai Valley Community Stadium costing $32,000, a $6,000 increase over last year, according to Patton.

Only once was the committee able to recoup the cost of the fireworks show through ticket sales. The committee must also pay costs of renting the field at Nordhoff Junior High and High School, and costs of the parade, including a Caltrans permit and a permit from the city of Ojai, along with street barricades.

The Patton family will be on-hand to help with the celebration. Son Jeff Patton will be flying in from Hawaii to serve as pyro-technician, while daughter Tracy Patton will help line up the parade entries. For years, daughter Kristi Adejumo served as committee chair.

The Ojai Independence Day Committee continues to seek volunteers to help with the celebration and sponsors to help fund activities on the Fourth of July, Patton said.

Sponsors who contribute $300 will have their names put on banners, while sponsors who donate $1,000 get their own banner. The banners are hung on the chainlink fence at Ojai Valley Community Stadium, and sponsor names are also put on the event website.

Fireworks tickets are sold at the Attitude Adjustment Shoppe, 1129 Maricopa Highway in Ojai, American Hay & Mercantile, and online. Tickets for families of six to eight people are only available online.

Patton thanked the community for all the donations received so far, the sponsors that have come onboard, the fireworks tickets that have already been purchased, and all the volunteers. “You’ve contributed to helping make memories in the valley,” she said.

For more information about Ojai Independence Day events, and to buy fireworks tickets, visit 4thofjulyinojai.com.