Annual Fireworks Display June 25, 2016

Once upon a time, there was a beach city with a pier 12 miles from downtown Los Angeles, that held a fireworks display on July 4th on the beach. Then, the wrong crowd started showing up. There was a gang murder on Santa Monica beach in 1990, and 2 more in 1991. The City tried doing it the morning of July 4th, and called it "The Dawn's Early Light." The gangs stayed up all night, and there were 3 gang murders in 1994.

So the beach City moved its display to Santa Monica college, and held in ten days early to confuse the gangs. Hired a bunch of police officers, and they all lived happily ever after.

Don't miss the free spectacular fireworks and entertainment of "Celebrate America" – Santa Monica College's popular star-spangled salute to our nation's independence – to be held Saturday, June 25.

The celebration – the only one of its kind in Santa Monica – will feature a dazzling fireworks show by Rialto-based Pyro Spectaculars Entertainment. Live music includes the popular Chris Mulkey Band and their Country Rock sounds, with Eddie Jauregui as Master of Ceremonies.

Held on Corsair Field, this year's festivities will include a food drive sponsored by the Associated Students of SMC in partnership with Westside Food Bank to help students in need. Guests are encouraged to bring donations of unopened, nonperishable food items to one of the multiple drop-off locations that will be available.

Also new this year will be the Welcome Lounge, where guests can meet SMC's new Superintendent/President Dr. Kathryn E. Jeffery, find out about all things SMC – including its award-winning NPR member radio station KCRW (89.9 FM) and acclaimed performance venue The Broad Stage at the SMC Performing Arts Center – and enjoy light refreshments sponsored by Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf®.

Celebrate America festivities will also feature community service booths, food trucks, and food booths operated by Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf®, the SMC Veterans' Center, Big King®, and Kettle Corn and Stuff. Picnicking is welcome, but alcoholic beverages, glass containers, barbecues, fireworks (including sparklers), and chairs with pointed legs are prohibited. SMC is a smoke free campus and all smoking is prohibited.

Parking lots open at 4 p.m. (enter at Pico Blvd. and 17th St.), with Corsair Field gates opening at 5 p.m. Entertainment begins at 7 p.m. The fireworks are scheduled at 9 p.m.

The event is FREE (donations are welcome), and parking is $5. See the Celebrate America website (www.smc.edu/CelebrateAmerica) or call (310) 434-3001 for additional details. You may also send email to COOK_VINNESSA@smc.edu for information.

Celebrate America is presented by Santa Monica College, the City of Santa Monica, the Associated Students of Santa Monica College, and the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District.

Event sponsors include Halton Pardee & Partners, Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf®, Bourget Brothers Building Materials, and the Los Angeles Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LA Metro).