OCEANSIDE (CNS) - Fourth of July celebrations began a little early with Saturday's 22nd annual Oceanside Independence Parade.
Bands, floats and dignitaries traveled along Coast Highway, from Wisconsin Avenue to Civic Center Drive early Saturday morning.
Chris Gow, the city's Senior Citizen of the Year for 2015, served as grand marshal of the parade, which had the theme "Volunteers Are the Heart of Our City.''
Gow has volunteered for a dozen local organizations since moving to the North County coastal city nearly 20 years ago.
Oceanside will also get a head start on fireworks. A pyrotechnics display is scheduled for Sunday at 9 p.m., with viewing available along Rancho del Oro Road, between Mesa Drive and Oceanside Boulevard.