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Home My WebLink About01 - January 30, 2026 - Fourth of July 2026 Celebration PARKS & RECREATION CITY HALL 10300 TORRE AVENUE • CUPERTINO, CA 95014-3255 TELEPHONE: (408) 777-3403 • FAX: (408) 777-3366 CUPERTINO.GOV CITY COUNCIL INFORMATIONAL MEMORANDUM Date: January 30, 2026 To: Cupertino City Council From: Rachelle Sander, Director of Parks & Recreation Re: Fourth of July 2026 Celebration Background: The Fiscal Year 2025-2026 budget allows for a wide range of community events and activities hosted by the Parks and Recreation Department, including a celebration on Independence Day. As funded, July 4th currently includes morning activities and festivities at Memorial Park, followed by an evening fireworks display launched from Hyde Middle School. Funding to open Blackberry Farm Pools and Picnic Area has been added to the proposed Fiscal Year 2026-2027 budget for City Council consideration. 2026 Independence Day Timeline and Description of Activities Pancake Breakfast (8:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.) The De Anza Optimist Club will host a pancake breakfast at the Quinlan Community Center from 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Flag Raising Ceremony (10:00 a.m.) At 10:00 a.m., the celebration transitions to the Veterans Memorial in Memorial Park for the Flag Raising Ceremony. This program typically includes: • Opening remarks by the Mayor and members of the City Council • A ceremonial flag raising conducted by a local Scout troop • A performance of the “Star-Spangled Banner” by a local vocalist Parade through Memorial Park Immediately following the Flag Raising Ceremony, a parade proceeds through Memorial Park. The parade is traditionally led by the City Council and a decorated golf cart playing patriotic music. Small flags are distributed during the Flag Raising Ceremony and prior to the parade. Children are encouraged to decorate bicycles, scooters, and wagons and participate in the procession. Concert and Family Activities (10:30 a.m. – Noon) The parade concludes at the Memorial Park amphitheater, where a concert is scheduled to begin at approximately 10:30 a.m. During the concert, family- and youth-oriented activities are offered on the field behind the amphitheater and the field behind the Quinlan Community Center. Planned activities include: • Approximately 10–15 lawn game stations with small prizes • Patriotic-themed temporary tattoos and a bubble play area • A large inflatable obstacle course • Patriotic backdrops for commemorative photos Evening Fireworks (9:30 p.m.) The evening celebration features a large-scale fireworks display lasting approximately 20 minutes, scheduled to begin at 9:30 p.m. Fireworks will be launched from Hyde Middle School. Designated public viewing areas will be available along Miller Avenue, at Creekside Park, and at Sedgewick Elementary School. Patriotic music will be broadcast at each viewing location during the fireworks presentation. City staff will implement street closures beginning at 5:00 p.m. to establish a secure perimeter around Hyde Middle School. Traffic circulation and event security will be coordinated with the Sheriff’s Office, CERTS/CARE, and the Fire Department before and during the event, continuing until an all-clear is issued. Traffic control measures are supported by rented electronic message boards and the strategic placement of large vehicles. Each viewing site will provide crowd support services, including first aid stations, portable restrooms, temporary lighting towers, and sound systems for music and safety announcements. Blackberry Farm Pools and Picnic Area Prior to the pandemic, Blackberry Farm was open on the 4th of July. Past practice included the operation of the pools for recreational swimming, opening the café, hosting food trucks, and opening the picnic area to families; no large rentals allowed. Staff have heard interest from the Council and community in resuming festivities at Blackberry Farm Pools and Picnic Area. Staff is able to add this component this year, however there is a cost associated with it. Funding to support the opening of Blackberry Farm Pools and Picnic Area for Fourth of July celebrations has been added to the Fiscal Year 2026–2027 budget for Council consideration. If approved, staff are in the position to add this element to the city’s Independence Day celebration in 2026 consistent with the scale of previous years. Public Communications Event information will be shared through the city website, social media channels, A-frame signage in parks, and community newsletters. Neighborhoods affected by fireworks-related street closures will also be notified through direct postcard mailing. Sustainability Impact No sustainability impact. Fiscal Impact Fourth of July event festivities, including morning activities and evening fireworks, are currently budgeted in Fiscal Year 26-27 for $151,378. The addition of Blackberry Farm Pools and Picnic Area would increase this amount by $6,696 totaling $158,074. City Work Program Item/Description None Council Goal Quality of Life California Environmental Quality Act No California Environmental Quality Act impact ___________________________________ Prepared by: Sonya Lee, Recreation Manager; Molly James, Recreation Manager Reviewed by: Rachelle Sander, Director of Parks and Recreation Approved for Submission by: Tina Kapoor, City Manager