The new Old Town Monrovia report: Here comes the sun and July 4 celebrations are back for 2021

Opinion by Shawn Spencer

I hope you are all enjoying this beautiful spring weather! It has been just perfect — the temperature, the breeze, flowers blooming, birds singing and the tintinnabulation of windchimes. Take it all in. Summer is almost here, and we know the heat is coming with it. With the heat comes a gentle reminder from yours truly: 97.5% of California is in some stage of drought. Please use caution when watering your yard and garden. Water in the early morning or late evening. There are also some handy DIY methods of drip watering with plastic water bottles.

With summer and the heat, also comes lots of fun in the sun! I am so happy to announce that our Summer Concerts are returning this year! We will need to appropriately distance ourselves, but we’re experts at that by now. Please visit cityofmonrovia.org (Recreation/Special Events), for the full schedule of bands at Station Square (all Saturday concerts) and Library Park (all Sunday concerts). The concert season begins July 10! Pack your picnic and remember lots of water. FYI: a wagon doubles as an awesome ice chest.

This 4th of July will be extra special this year! I know that we all missed our fireworks show last year, but thankfully the extravaganza is back for 2021! Night Owl, a top-40 band, will be performing from 7-8:30 p.m., followed by a sure-to-be-amazing fireworks show at 9 p.m.! The City of Monrovia is also hosting a home decorating contest and an Old Town window decorating contest. Break out all of your red, white and blue and show your patriotic American spirit! Judging will take place on June 30 and July 1, and maps will be provided on July 2. Categories for decorating are as follows: best K-rail, best patriotic display, judges award, most spectacular, salute to our military and small-town USA. For those of you that did not know, City Hall is open again Monday-Thursday 7 a.m.-6 p.m. and Friday 7 a.m.-5:30 p.m. They will be closed for the 4th of July holiday.

Would you like to own a little bit of history? The Monrovia Historical Society is having a treasures sale. The sale will be at the Anderson House, at 215 E. Lime Ave. Proceeds will go to restoring Lizzie Anderson’s kitchen. The sale is open to members on June 11, from 1-6 p.m. (You can become a member on the spot!), and open to the public on June 12, from 10 a.m.-3 p.m.

Join your neighbors on Saturday, June 19, for a day of peace, love and unity at Monrovia’s second Annual Juneteenth Celebration. For those of you who might not be familiar with the term “Juneteenth,” it is a holiday that commemorates the end of slavery in America. It is also called Emancipation Day or Juneteenth Independence Day. The name “Juneteenth” references the date of the holiday, combining the words “June” and “nineteenth.” The celebration at Station Square will have live music, art, crafts, games, guest speakers and refreshments.

Save the dates: Sept. 11 Monrovia Old Town Derby. Oct. 9 Monrovia Wine Walk.

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