Village Fourth Motorcade in the Works

Don’t miss Montecito’s fourth annual Motorcade Parade on July 4! The festive event, which was borne out of the social distancing measures put in place by the pandemic, will be rolling through Montecito beginning at 11:30 am on Tuesday, July 4. “We are encouraging everyone to come out and support the community and show their patriotism!” said organizer (and this year’s Grand Marshal!), Mindy Denson. 

The parade, which starts at Montecito Union School, will roll down San Ysidro Road to North Jameson to Coast Village Road, Hot Springs, and East Valley, and will include 25 vintage and modern vehicles driven by community leaders and representatives from local organizations. 

Denson is organizing the event, along with a dedicated committee that includes Conner Rehage, Inken Gerlach, Mike Edwards, Dana Hansen, Sharon Byrne, Nina Terzian, Jacqueline Duran, Andrea and Dana Newquist, Patty Rich Zuckerman, Trish Davis, Jean von Wittenburg, Montecito Fire Chief David Neels, California Highway Patrol’s Mike Logie, and Santa Barbara Sheriff Lieutenant Butch Arnoldi. The committee chose to honor Denson with the title of Grand Marshal, after she has helped organize Village Fourth festivities for the last 19 years. Denson is highly involved in numerous organizations including the Montecito Association Board of Directors, the Lobero Theatre Foundation and Associates Boards, SB Firefighters Alliance Board, SB Wildlife Care Network Board, Santa Barbara Zoofari Ball Committee, Santa Barbara Heroes of Hospice Committee, and others. She has also been heavily involved in the MA events and Beautification Committee for many years. She also is an avid tennis player, a familiar face at Polo, and works at Legacy on Coast Village Road. “I am so honored to be chosen as Grand Marshal,” she said. “I love helping to make this a special event for the kids!” Denson hinted that next year, the committee would love to bring back the traditional parade and BBQ/concert in Lower Manning Park. “We feel it’s the right thing to do,” she said. 

To enter a vehicle in the parade, to help sponsor, or for more information, visit www.montecitoassociation.org.