Malibu celebrates America's 250th in patriotic style at Point Dume Parade and Picnic
By Barbara Burke · Sun Jul 19 2026
Thousands gather for the community's beloved Fourth of July tradition, with festive floats, patriotic pride, local heroes, and family fun
Amidst joyful jubilance and the cacophony inherent in gathering a very large assemblage of people with their animals and vehicles, friends and neighbors laughed and chatted as they lined up on the morning of July 4 for Malibu’s 27th annual Point Dume Parade and Picnic. Delighted dogs accompanied red, white, and blue-decorated floats, cars, golf carts, trucks, e-bikes, bicycles, motorcycles, skateboards, horses, mini-horses, a unicycle, a fire engine, an emergency medical response truck, a Moke, horses from Maliwu Mustangs and some owned by others, and of course — because it’s Malibu — a Woodie, and even a Vanderhall, as they all queued in line.
The large crowd awaiting the parade to begin was filled with joy and expectation as many gathered curbside near Malibu Elementary School, craning their necks to see who could first spot the parade. Attendees were serenaded by Cici Lee, adorned with angel wings and sitting on a horse named Chief Comanche Sky singing patriotic songs, adding extra jubilance to the festive occasion.
What a parade it was! According to Richard Garvey, an experienced crowd control and emergency management volunteer in Malibu, approximately 1,450 people attended, meaning that an impressive portion of Malibu’s population turned up for one of Malibu’s most cherished, terrific traditions.
As befits a once-in-a-lifetime semiquincentennial celebration, participants excitedly drove, ran, marched, pranced, danced, walked, sauntered, and drove along the parade route, merrily making their way through the streets of Pt. Dume. The regalia flowing in many vehicles evinced how incredibly creative and ingenious those living in Malibu are and demonstrated local residents’ patriotism. Indeed, the colorfully creative cavalcade convinced all in the audience that this was the best Pt. Dume parade ever. Clearly, Malibu’s version of We the People delightedly celebrated democracy.
The fire engine and an EMT vehicle led the procession, followed by a sweet cherry red Mustang convertible bearing Richard Gibbs, the master of ceremonies, whose attire depicted him as a thoroughly convincing founding father. Evoking his best inner Patrick Henry, Gibbs emphatically thrust his sword heaven-ward and yelled, “Give me liberty or give me death!” Then, he defiantly declared, “No taxation without representation!”
Golf carts, horseback riders decorated in patriotic regalia, pickup trucks with attached balloons and flags cheerily flowing in the breeze, an inflated Tyrannosaurus Rex painted red, white, and blue atop a jeep drove near a golf cart bearing an inflated whale, while another vehicle sported a gaggle of astronauts. A Pikachu-themed golf cart overflowing with giggling kids also joined in the fun. When asked why her team chose that theme, Cori Grosman responded, “It’s the 30th anniversary of Pokemon and the 250th anniversary of the USA!” One festive cart bore a sign stating, “Life, liberty and the pursuit of hot dogs!” while another simply stated, “America’s 250th birthday!” Almost certainly, our founding fathers would have been proud of the parade’s attendee turnout and many locals’ participation.
Car collector Frank Brown kindly drove all the way from Ventura and thoroughly enjoyed bringing his Woody wagon to the event, explaining that it was very unique. “It’s a 1941 Cadillac Craft and is one of a kind!” Brown said. “I’m so happy to join in all the fun — this parade is also one-of-a-kind.”
A wide-eyed Baye Orszag, 11, declared, “This parade is really cool and we love America!” Chiming in, Maine Orszag, 8, commented, “I like how all the bikes are going by and that everyone is participating.” Eden Orszag, 10, remarked. “I think it’s fun that so many people are all dressed up.”
Smiling broadly as if he’d won a lottery, Congressman Brad Sherman cheerfully commented, “This is Americana at its best — Happy 250 years!”
“My ponies loved the parade,” Cathy Cadieux happily exclaimed, referring to her small ponies who were draped in colors of the American flag. “Twenty-five-year-old Sammy was the perkiest I have seen him in years — he’s such a ham!” Many participants wore period costumes including Cadieux, who portrayed one gorgeous Statue of Liberty.
“We won a prize for the best golf cart!” Candace Bowen Ferguson delightedly declared, noting that Marielle Hadid and Colton Afalo helped her decorate the cart.
“I grew up attending the Pt. Dume parade and every year we drove in the event in my Grandpa’s Pierce Arrow that was manufactured in the 1920s,” said Sunshine Armstrong of Under the Oaks School. “I’m so honored to be here, especially because our school almost burned down in the Palisades Fire, and luckily we are now back in business. That reminds me of a saying my grandmother always said, referring to the gorgeous tree on our school’s grounds. She would say, referring to the massive tree at the school that fortuitously survived the Palisades Fire, 'The old tree says. . . . and then, she always inserted a vocabulary word. Today, our team’s word of the day is perseverance!'”
Kian Tahexi, who was accompanying the Under the Oak’s team stated, “By participating in the parade and through the teaching at Under the Oaks, we plant the seeds of patriotism in the next generation, and we teach the students about love and nature — the whole idea of both the parade and our school is to raise awareness of community and patriotism during childhood.”
There are so many people to thank!
Gratitude for the delightful, memorable event goes to Paul Major, who helped to found the parade as well as to establish the Point Dume Community Services District in 1985 via signatures of 80% of registered voters residing in the district that urged formation of the entity after the closure of Point Dume School, which is now Malibu Elementary School. Ever humble, Major also noted that appreciation is owed to Garvey, Yvette Mattern, Lisa McKean, Jane Albrecht, Brian Conway, Wailani O’Herlihy, Chase Hirt, Cathy Cadieux, Mark DiPaola, and Mark Barnett.
Major noted that the parade organizers also greatly appreciated support and contributions by what he characterized as, “July 4th Super Star Betty Hayman,” the “250th Independence Day Heroes,” including Charlotte and Jeremy Fletcher, Marc Gurvitz, Paige Munch, Sari Snyder and Margo Stilley, “Friends of the Parade,” Adam Cahan, Brandon Coxton, Madelyn Glickfeld, Pat Hill, recently appointed Malibu City Manager Joe Irvin, Seth Kramer, Lisa McKean, Sigute and Danny Miller, Laureen Sills, Cadieux, Chris Cortazzo of Compass Realty, Tom Jennings, Mark Burnett, and Pamela Ulich.
Noting that so many other people also contributed to the event’s huge success, Major added that thanks also goes to the Volunteers on Patrol and members of Malibu’s Community Emergency Response Team who helped to ensure that everyone’s vehicles were properly parked and that all attending were safe.
Many loyal local businesses sponsored the event, including Malibu Fountains, Cormac and Wailani O’Herlihy of Sotheby’s International Realty, Major Landscape, Postal Annex, Santa Monica Malibu United School District, the County of Los Angeles, the City of Malibu, Malibu Times, The Malibu Project, Station 71 of the Los Angeles County Fire Department, Imaginaire Media, The Sunset Restaurant, Malibu Rainbow, Run Screaming, Buzz Wax Automotive Hygiene, Wolf Among Us, Crystal Falls Rides by Crystal “Cici” Hoang, Malibu Ranch Market, V’s Restaurant and Bar, Malibu Elementary School, and Telltale.
Food vendors and a play area added to the fun
After the parade, attendees dispersed to a picnic featuring delicious food from local eateries Howdy’s, Paradise Cove Beach Cafe, and Papa Razzi’s Pizza, and delicious ice cream, compliments of Malibu Softcone. The children’s fun activities as dogs happily ran around and adults conversed.
As the happy crowd slowly dispersed, some attendees discussed their plans for the rest of the holiday. Baye Orszag shared, “We’re going surfing, then having our lemonade stand and a barbecue!”
Yvette Mattern’s Malibu Rainbow delighted many locals
Sponsors and other distinguished guests gathered on the evenings of July 3 and 4 at a private local home and immersed in experiencing Yvette Mattern’s Global Rainbow, an impressive laser light display that shined beams of light across Malibu’s coast. Attendee Diane Moss posted a comment on Facebook stating, “These rainbow lights brought wonder to the night sky on the night of the nation’s 250th — thanks to my awesome neighbors for bringing this uplifting gift to my hometown and inviting us to enjoy it!”
What fun! To enjoy more regarding how Malibu truly and thoroughly celebrated the Fourth of July, readers can view shared memories and images on the Point Dume Community Services District Facebook page and website, where they can learn about how to contribute or volunteer for next year’s Independence Day celebration and also about the district’s emergency radio communication project to further localized disaster readiness. Go to pdcsd.org.
Photos by Dana Rubin/TMT
