Tag: flag

San Diego’s very big America 250 party!

When hundreds of thousands of people come together for a good time, that’s a very, very big party. An epic party of that size was held around San Diego Bay today, as folks from all over converged on the waterfront to watch the Big Bay Boom fireworks display and celebrate the 250th birthday of America! Not your everyday Fourth of July!

I’ve never seen so much humanity crowded onto the Embarcadero. Even as I left, shortly after nightfall, people were still arriving from seemingly every direction–filling the boardwalks, Embarcadero Marina Park South and North, the steps of the San Diego Convention Center, Seaport Village, the USS Midway, nearby piers, Waterfront Park…

These America 250 photos were taken as I walked south from the Grape Street Pier to the Rady Shell (where a concert featuring all-American music was being held).

People are more interesting than fireworks to me, so my photos mostly focus on those who came down to San Diego Bay for a patriotic party like no other…

As you can see, the new Ringer’s roller skating rink in Seaport Village is now finished. It opened yesterday!

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San Diego readies for America 250!

Walking around San Diego the past week or so, I’ve seen signs that the city is getting ready for the big America 250 celebration. The 250th anniversary of the United States is coming up on Saturday, July 4th–Independence Day!

I’ve been taking photos of things that concern America’s birthday. Here’s what I’ve found so far, including event information you might find useful…

In Old Town:

In Old Town San Diego State Historic Park, an Old-Fashioned 4th of July will include a flag raising ceremony, live music, art, lawn games, a watermelon eating contest, a quilt raffle, and loads of free family fun. The patriotic event starts at 11 am and continues to 3 pm.

In the Marriott Marina:

At the Coronado Ferry Landing:

At the San Diego County Fair:

In Coronado at the VFW:

At a hotel and restaurant in East Village:

I forget where:

In Balboa Park:

In Balboa Park, the House of USA will present America’s 250th 4th of July Celebration! There will be food, dancing, music and patriotic fervor! It all takes places at the International Cottages from 11 am to 4 pm.

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A huge Padres flag on San Diego Bay!

A very cool sight if you’re a Padres baseball fan! This huge Padres flag flying from the Triton catamaran was out on San Diego Bay yesterday!

I spotted it while riding the Coronado ferry. Coincidentally, Petco Park rises in the background.

The San Diego Padres are up against two of the best Major League Baseball teams this week: the Atlanta Braves and Los Angeles Dodgers.

Let’s get some big victories!

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Flag Day colors in Balboa Park.

Today, June 14th, is Flag Day.

I enjoyed a leisurely Sunday afternoon in Balboa Park. Could I find anything related to Flag Day as I wandered about the park?

This year there seemed to be no special activities for the day, but I did observe the red, white and blue in various forms…

I knew there would be colorful red, white and blue inside the House of USA at the International Cottages! There was a friendly greeting, too!

I learned they’ll be having a lawn program for the Fourth of July.

Now resuming my walk into the Palisades area of Balboa Park…

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Alamo Flags is ready for America 250!

Walking through Seaport Village this morning, I can definitely see the Alamo Flags shop is stocked up and ready for America’s 250th anniversary!

Our nation’s big birthday bash is coming up soon!

Lots of flags, banners and shirts featuring Statues of Liberty, bald eagles, fireworks, patriotic red, white and blue…

Flag Day celebration coming to San Diego.

A special Flag Day Celebration is coming up on June 6, 2026 in Old Town San Diego. What makes it special? This year is the 250th birthday of the United States of America!

The “Legacy of Liberty” ceremony will be held at 5:00 pm at the Mormon Battalion Historic Site at 2510 Juan Street.

I went to the Mormon Battalion’s patriotic Flag Day event last year and it was quite moving. There was stirring music and deserving honorees were recognized. Should you go, you’ll likely see participants in colonial uniforms and attire, much red, white and blue, and plenty of smiles.

Everyone is welcome to attend!

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Making a women of Old Town quilt.

Threads of the Past was open yesterday in Old Town San Diego State Historic Park. I was walking by their door, so I had to peek inside. Look what I found!

These friendly ladies in old-fashioned attire were working on a quilt!

They showed me how they’re creating a new quilt that honors the women of Old Town.

The square in my next photograph depicts the three daughters of Juan Bandini, one of early San Diego’s most prominent residents.

As this article explains: During the Mexican-American war and during the United States’ “Conquest” of California, Juan Bandini supported the Americans. His three daughters are even credited with making the first American flag that was raised in the Old Town Plaza on July 29, 1846–the day John Charles Fremont arrived in town.

That explains the inclusion of a United States flag.

The ladies of Threads of the Past are also working on their annual quilt to be raffled during the next Fourth of July celebration in Old Town. Kids have contributed art to many small squares. The project raises funds for the Boosters of Old Town San Diego.

If you’re ever walking in Old Town San Diego State Historic Park, look for Threads of the Past. If their door is open, step inside!

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Photos of Veterans Day Parade in Escondido!

The 6th Annual Veterans Day Parade was held today in downtown Escondido. Residents of various neighboring cities came together to enjoy what has been renamed the North County VetFest and Veterans Day Parade.

In the mid-morning I stood with spectators along North Broadway at the edge of Grape Day Park. A group assembled on the street in front of Review Stand 1 sang the National Anthem. Then a minute or two later…here came the parade!

Over fifty units would pass by to cheers and applause. There were community organizations, clubs, schools with marching bands, church groups, politicians, scouts, cadets, pageant and rodeo queens, firefighters, equestrian groups, local businesses… But most importantly, there were the honored Veterans.

Veterans from many generations and wars, who’ve sacrificed for all of us, waved from passing classic cars, vintage ambulances, trailers and other vehicles. They received the greatest applause.

I photographed many of the passing units. I’m now going to share a fraction of my shots from the parade. Some of the best ones.

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I post new blogs pretty often. If you like discovering new things, bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!

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69th Annual Massing of the Colors next Saturday!

The 69th Annual Massing of the Colors and Service of Remembrance will be held this coming Saturday, October 11, 2025 in Balboa Park. Everyone is invited!

Dozens of color guards from all around San Diego County will come together for an amazing patriotic event at the Spreckels Organ Pavilion. The event will take place between 10:30 and 11:30 in the morning. It’s free and open to the public.

If you’ve never witnessed the Massing of the Colors, you’re missing out on a very stirring spectacle. Representatives from the military, Junior ROTC, Scouts, and patriotic organizations around San Diego will honor those who’ve served and sacrificed by filling the Spreckels Organ Pavilion with a sea of flags.

The Massing of the Colors is presented each year by the San Diego Chapter of the Military Order of the World Wars, a patriotic organization that was founded in 1926. Their motto is: It Is Nobler To Serve Than To Be Served.

Here’s the flyer concerning Saturday’s event:

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I post new blogs pretty often. If you like discovering new things, bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!

I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or X.

Feel free to share!

Parade of Flags celebrates 90 years in Balboa Park!

Balboa Park’s International Cottages are celebrating their 90th anniversary this weekend! They were established in 1935 for the California Pacific International Exposition.

The festivities kicked off today with the House of Pacific Relations International Cottage Parade of Flags!

Members of all the different Houses paraded through Balboa Park, to finally assemble at the Spreckels Organ Pavilion. Many participants wore traditional dress, representative of their nation.

Shame on me. I didn’t realize the parade was today. I was fortunate to catch the tail end of the colorful parade, as some of the nations filed proudly into the organ pavilion.

If you’re curious, that’s the House of Scotland Pipe Band with their drums and bagpipes under the huge United States flag. They were joined by young members of the Helix High School Highlanders band!

After the parade, there would be the National Anthem, speeches and cultural entertainment on the organ pavilion stage, then on the lawn at the International Cottages. (I’ll share those photos in my next blog post.)

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I post new blogs pretty often. If you like discovering new things, bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!

I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or X.

Feel free to share!