The Jazz, Blues, and Funk Festival is BACK!

Join us at the Pittsburg Civic Center for the Jazz, Blues, Funk Festival the weekend of August 19-20. The Festival is a two-day event that will feature a variety of artists, food, beer, and wine.

Tickets are on sale now with the option for VIP, General admission, and Two-day Passes.

Buy your tickets now: www.pittsburgtickets.com

See photos from the celebration and parade winners

By Allen D. Payton

Hundreds of Antioch residents lined the streets of historic, downtown Rivertown to enjoy the annual Independence Day Parade on Tuesday afternoon, July 4, 2023. Beginning with Antioch Police motorcycle officers and the Delta Veterans Group, the parade ended with the Tamaborago Arrazador band and dancing horses. (See parade videos on the Antioch Herald Facebook here and here)

A crowd then gathered in Waldie Plaza to enjoy the sounds of Tony Lindsay, the longest-tenured lead singer of Santana, and band and Michael Jackson tribute band Foreverland. (See videos here, here, here and here)

Children also enjoyed the Kids Zone in the City Hall parking lot and folks enjoyed food from the Rivertown Dining District restaurants and the various food trucks and booths.

Thousands of people a gathered along the Promenade between G Street and Waldie Plaza, on the Compy Compomizzo Fishing Pier and at Monica’s Riverview restaurant (for a fee), as well as along the railroad right-of-way to watch the fireworks show over the river.

The fireworks barge arrived from Fulton Shipyard on the east end of Antioch’s waterfront to just across from the fishing pier and Monica’s the at the end of I and H Streets, as the pyrotechnics company staff prepared to launch the first shells of the show which began about 9:20 pm.

The fireworks show to end this year’s Antioch Independence Day Celebration and especially the finale pleased those who watched along the waterfront as they cheered, whistled and applauded. See videos of the fireworks finale, here.

Parade Winners

Most Creative: Delta Learning Center

Most Patriotic: Delta Veterans Group

Best Performance: Park Middle School Cheer

Best Vehicle – 1st: Councilmember Monica Wilson

Best Vehicle – 2nd: “Sassy” (1928 Pontiac)

Best Vehicle – 3rd: “Phatt Chance” (1950 Plymouth)

No plans, this 4th of July? Come party with us!

-Entry fee after 5 pm: $10 for adults, $5 for kids. Includes beverage ticket

-Exclusive outdoor seating to view fireworks

-DJ’s all day starting at 11am

-Face painting and entertainment for the kids

-Cuco’s Tacos

-Special dining room menu

Monica’s Riverview is located on the water at 1 I (Eye) Street in Antioch’s historic, downtown Rivertown. For more information see visitmonicas.com.

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For more information see visitmonicas.com.

Join the City of Antioch in celebrating Independence Day on Tuesday, July 4th in our historic, downtown Rivertown from 4-10 p.m.

Celebration Site

The main celebration will take place in Waldie Plaza and the parking lot of City Hall, encompassing W. 2nd to W. 3rd Streets and G to I Streets. There are many things to do and enjoy within the celebration site including a live entertainment stage, local vendors, food trucks, Kids Zone, DJ stage and much more.

Local Restaurants

The Rivertown Dining District has 14 establishments to enjoy a variety of dining experiences including Smith’s Landing Seafood Grille, Monica’s Riverview, Rick’s on Second, Chrome Coffee, Solid Rock Café/Q’s Cajun Kitchen, Guadalajara Taqueria, Canton City, Tony’s Beer Garden, Tease Southern Kitchen, TnT Smoothie & Juice Bar, La Plazuela, Taco Tone, plus, the newest additions, Buford’s BBQ and Four Legs Brewing at Monica’s.

Parade

The parade begins at4:00 p.m. Bring your own chairs and set up along W. 2nd and W. 3rd Streets before 4:00 pm to watch our annual Independence Day Parade pass by. Visit Waldie Plaza to experience live entertainment and enjoy local food vendors and trucks. Have an exciting time with friends and family in the Kids Zone located at City Hall.

Parade Route

The parade will begin at the intersection of W. 2nd and E Streets next to the old lumber company lot at 4:00 PM. The Judges’ Station will be located at the center of Waldie Plaza. A second parade performance stop will be on W. 3rd Street next to City Hall. We will finish the parade on W. 3rd Street at the corner of D Street.

Parade Entry Information: Fourth of July Parade Application

Community Vendor Application: Download Application

(Email completed applications to recreation@antiochca.gov)

Live Entertainment

Enjoy live entertainment on the stage in Waldie Plaza.

Tony Lindsay – In 1980, RnB Jazz-Soul vocalist Tony Lindsay arrived in the San Francisco Bay Area from Kingston, New York and after 25 years as the lead vocalist for Santana, Lindsay has garnered 11 Grammy awards, traveled on several world tours and recorded on seven CDs.

Foreverland – The Electrifying Tribute to Michael Jackson – A fan favorite from last year’s July 4th Celebration, since 2009, Foreverland has been mesmerizing audiences around the country with their larger-than-life tribute to the one and only Michael Jackson. Featuring three dynamic vocalists, a powerhouse rhythm section, and the hardest working horn section in the biz, Foreverland recreates hits from the Jackson 5 era through the end of Michael’s incredible career in a way that honors the King of Pop’s musical genius and legendary showmanship like no other tribute band has ever done.

Fireworks Show

Be sure to pick your spot to see the big fireworks show on the river which will begin after dusk (usually about 9:30 pm).

Schedule*

4:00 PM – 5:00 PM Parade

4:00 PM – 9:00 PM Kids Zone

5:00 PM – 5:15 PM That Math Magician

5:00 PM – 6:30 PM Live Entertainment | Tony Lindsay

7:30 PM – 9:00 PM Kids Zone Stage | DJ Melly Mel

7:00 PM Announcements of Parade Winners

7:15 PM – 9:15 PM Live Entertainment | Foreverland

9:15 PM Fireworks Show

*Times subject to change

For more information visit www.antiochca.gov/fourth-of-july-celebration.

Starring Antioch youth at Nick Rodriguez Community Theater

Presented by Aspire Youth Engagement Programs, Inc. Visual & Performing Arts Academy and City of Antioch

Come watch Annie, Jr., the exciting musical based on the popular Tony-winning musical Annie. Follow the journey of a young orphan, Annie as she determines to find her parents!

This exciting show, free to the public, features Antioch scholars, from kindergarten through 12th grade, mounting the stage in dance, song and theater performances.

With over 18 years of experience with providing impactful youth services programs throughout Northern California, Pittsburg-based Aspire Youth Engagement Programs, Inc. continue to excel as leaders in the industry, keeping our pulse to the ever-changing needs of today’s youth, while creating relevant and fresh programs that make a difference.  Aspire Programs among others include:

• City of Antioch (January 2022-present)

a. “Annie, Jr.” our upcoming production coming on Friday and Saturday, June 23rd and 24th at the Nick Rodriguez Community Theater at 213 F Street in Antioch’s historic, downtown Rivertown. This production, free to the public features scholars, Kinder-12th grade from the city of Antioch, mounting the stage in Dance, Song and Theater performances.

b.  Musical Production – “The Wiz Jr.” – City of Antioch (2022)

c.  Painting & Spoken Word (Middle School/High School scholars – City of Antioch – Summer 2022)

d.  Basketball Summer Camp (13- to 17-year-old boys) June 20th – July 15th (38 scholars)

• After School Programs which includes Dance, Theatre and Voice/Choir (Pittsburg Unified School District ‘PUSD’ – 2018-present)

• Bay Point – Dance Classes (1st-8th Grade), Ambrose Community Center (March-June 2023)

• Visual & Performing Arts Academy

a. Annual Holiday Musical Production “Joy – The Urban Nutcracker – (88 Scholars from Antioch, Brentwood, Oakley and Pittsburg). Performed at Pittsburg Creative Arts Building, Big Theater, December 10, 2022;

• STEM & STEAM Programs (PUSD, April 2020; April 2021; April,2022 (virtual)

• Girl’s Leadership Program (Social Etiquette, Fashion, Future Leaders)

OUR MISSION

Aspire Youth Engagement Programs are designed to help Kinder – 12th grade scholars discover and develop their true potential focusing on key areas of growth – academically, emotionally and through leadership development – to become their best within the community.

THE COMMUNITY BENEFITS OF VISUAL AND PERFORMING ARTS

The performing arts are intrinsically valuable for the beauty and fulfillment they bring, but researchers have observed that it also brings other benefits such as Empathy, Academic Performance, and Self Esteem. Performing onstage is frightening for newcomers, which is why students feel an immense confidence boost after they practice hard, work together, and successfully stage a play for friends, the community and family. The kids in our programs practice teamwork, gain confidence, learn leadership and build a skill set not only for a theater stage, but for the real world.

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