Behind the carefree festivities of the Coronado Fourth of July parade, an event that has anchored decades of summers for attendees, is a community dedicated to presenting parade goers with the best Coronado has to offer.
One incredibly important ingredient in the success of the annual parade is its team of announcers. Across 13 stations set up along Orange Avenue, the announcers use music and commentary to keep the crowd engaged and situated while the floats drift by.
32 years of announcing
Longtime Coronado resident Robb Huff has been announcing alongside his wife Carmen for the past 32 years.
Huff’s first year was less than enchanting.
“You would read this horrible script about people that are in front of you. We did it for one year, and I’m like, ‘this is horrible,’” said Huff.
So Huff, who was then running the University of California San Diego’s music department, decided to introduce music.
“I got a bunch of equipment from the school. The next year, we set up speakers and just blasted music,” Huff said.
During Huff’s time as an announcer, the parade has significantly expanded. In an event that has intentionally maintained its authentic Coronado roots, the announcers embody the parade’s local flair.
Local families
Huff emphasized the importance of “local families taking over” the announcing duties even as the parade becomes increasingly high-profile.
Huff’s niece, Grace Sylvester, is one such local announcer.
Sylvester was born in Coronado into a military family. Although her family moved from the island when she was quite young, Sylvester returned and was incredibly excited when her uncle asked her to announce in 2015.
“Moving back here and having my uncle invite me to [announce], I thought I was gonna be the coolest kid around,” recounts the 24-year-old Sylvester. “I think it’s an essential part of the community to be able to provide that joy.”
Sylvester, who announces with her parents and two siblings, has returned for the Fourth of July “elated to join the announcers once again.”
Sylvester is drawn back each year by the display of community the parade represents.
“On the Fourth it kind of feels like time stops,” Sylvester said. “We set down everything else that’s going on in our lives and we come together, all dressed in our festive colors of red, white and blue, and are so excited to just be together. I think it’s beautiful to watch and be able to help embrace that in the community.”
Huff, Sylvester and the entire team of announcers work hard to entertain the growing throngs of people who attend the parade.
Going above and beyond
To Huff, Coronado’s parade organizers go above and beyond to make the event special each year.
“If we did the parade with no sound and no anything, just let the horses and the bands walk down the street, people would say, ‘Cool, that’s a parade,’” Huff said. “At the end of the day, a parade can be simple, but you want to enhance the experience. The parade is very special to everybody, but it’s not an easy thing.”
In light of all that hard work, Sylvester offers her best advice to anybody on the Fourth of July:
“Don’t be afraid to get up and dance, to ask questions, to really embrace the sense of community that [comes alive] on the Fourth of July, because I think that’s the best part of the holiday,” she said.
