Community Corner

Independence Day Parade an Excuse for a Saturday 'Staycation'

The parade begins at 10 a.m. Saturday on Wisconsin Avenue and follows Coast Highway to Civic Center Drive.

Oceanside will celebrate the nation's adoption of the Declaration of Independence Saturday with the  Saturday morning. 

For those looking to make a day of it, Patch has put together a few places near the parade route that offer food, fun and shopping. Please add your own to the comment section.

Saturday's event will begin at 10 a.m. and will follow Coast Highway from Wisconsin Avenue to Civic Center Drive. It’s expected to run for two hours.

Find out what's happening in Oceanside-Camp Pendletonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The highest concentration of people will be the north end, according to . That’s the best spot for spectators, said Perry Roumbos, owner of the Breakfast Club Diner.

“You want to stay close to the end of the route, because there’s a number of things you can do—from laying on the beach to seeing a movie at ,” he said. “It’s a really good feel downtown. Not only are we a beach town, but we’re also a military town.”

Find out what's happening in Oceanside-Camp Pendletonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

This year’s Grand Marshal will be Oscar Culp. He fought in World War II as a member of the famed Montford Point Marines— an segregated African American unit.  The theme is "The Spirit of Freedom."

Below are some places to stop by as part of your day in downtown Oceanside. Please add your own suggestions to the comments section and I will add some of those to the story later in the week.

Click on the links to find more information such as hours, ticket prices and location.

Food & Drink:

  •  brings guests back to the 1980s and offers patriotic stomachs red, white and blue French toast. It is also home to the Zeus Burrito—a combination of Greek and Mexican food.
  •  is a historic diner at the beginning of the parade route and is reminiscent of the 1950s.
  •  is a small neighborhood coffee shop near the start of the route that also offers organic smoothies and features art for sale.
  •  is a popular American-style café and a winner of a Patch Readers’ Choice poll.
  •  is a trendy spot near the pier and was voted as the best sushi place in Oceanside in a Patch Readers’ Choice poll.
  •  is a popular Thai restaurant that has plenty of vegetarian dishes.

Recreation:

  • The beach at Pier View South— the city’s most popular beach—is near the end of the parade route and has plenty of food options. Wisconsin Street Beach offers more seclusion.
  •  will have a showing of  “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown” by the Oceanside Theatre Company at 7:30 p.m. at. Find more information at .
  •  has cruiser bike rentals for half or a full day. Call  (760) 722-3377 for reservations.
  •  has exhibits on Vietnam-era surfing and the skateboard’s transition from clay to urethane.  It’s open daily from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Read more about the exhibits on the museum’s webpage.
  •  members and guests will be able to meet artist  Jeanette Bonds, who will show her animation 14.7 PSI, which appears to be an underwater environment, according to OMA. It was inspired by a near-drowning experience she had. 
  •  was recently named after the football legend and will have a free showing of The Sandlot at dusk.

Shopping:

  •  opened this year and has fashionable and custom suits in a range of sizes, but caters to its bustier customers.
  • Balina Home Décor at 224 N. Coast Highway, is a brand new store with a variety of items to spruce up a home. It is open daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

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