A shorter route, an undimmed spirit

This year the parade started later than tradition—4:00 p.m.—and followed a shortened route through the heart of the Village. It made its early turn off Sunset at Carey Street, the same corner where my former Coldwell Banker office once stood, directly across from the still standing fire station. On the Fourth, it stood watch over the crowd as it always has, a quiet reminder of who held the line.

When the sun went down, the celebration continued with a drone show over the Palisades—a modern flourish on a tradition that reaches back to 1948.

The band that keeps marching

I have a soft spot for this parade. I’ve marched it twice with the Pacific Palisades Oom-Pah-Pah Band, clarinet in hand. I couldn’t make it this year, but I checked in with pride thinking of my friends as they carried the tune all the way down Carey Street. Charles Bornstein led on clarinet and David Schorr on saxophone—two of the same faces who have marched this route before, back again to march it once more.

That’s the thing about this town. The same people show up, year after year. They tune up, they line up, and they play.

Oom-Pah-Pah Band musicians mustering with trombones and clarinets before the Palisades Fourth of July parade — Mustering before the step-off (2024). Courtesy of the Pacific Palisades Oom-Pah-Pah Band.

Pacific Palisades Oom-Pah-Pah Band members preparing to march at the Fourth of July parade — Lining up (2024). Courtesy of the Pacific Palisades Oom-Pah-Pah Band.

And the Village comes home in August

There’s more good news on the horizon. Palisades Village—famously spared from destruction during the fire—has been closed for extensive remediation and a reported $60 million revitalization. It is set to reopen in full this August 2026, welcoming back beloved names alongside new arrivals, with Erewhon slated to return in January.

The heart of the Palisades is coming back to life: the parade in July, the Village in August. Piece by piece, the neighborhood is finding its rhythm again.

Smiling members of the Pacific Palisades Oom-Pah-Pah Band gathered at the Fourth of July parade

The Oom-Pah-Pah Band, all smiles (2024). Courtesy of the Pacific Palisades Oom-Pah-Pah Band.

Rooted here

I’ve lived, worked, and played music in this community for years. Watching the flag go up over Sunset Boulevard—still there—is exactly why I do what I do. If you’re thinking about buying or selling in Pacific Palisades and want an agent who genuinely knows this neighborhood and believes in its future, I’d love to talk.

Greg Dahl
Dahl Realtors • greg@dahlrealtors.com

In January 2025, the Palisades Fire changed this community in ways words struggle to hold. Homes, storefronts, and gathering places that defined daily life here were lost. But Pacific Palisades has never been only its buildings — it is its people, its coastline, and a resolve that has shown itself again and again in the months since. This is a look at where the neighborhood stands today: what has reopened, what is coming back, and why so many remain committed to returning.

If you are a resident finding your footing again, a family weighing a return, or someone drawn to invest in the community’s future, our hope is that this page offers something steadier than a headline: an honest, current sense of the place.

What’s Open Now

Much of what makes the Palisades the Palisades — the ocean, the trails, the open sky, and the everyday places neighbors count on — came through and remains here for anyone ready to reconnect with it.

The coast: Will Rogers State Beach

The shoreline endures. Will Rogers State Beach remains a place to surf, swim, or simply sit with the water — more reserved and less crowded than its neighbors, and the same wide views that have always helped clear a heavy mind. As with any area still in recovery, it’s worth checking current conditions before you go.

Los Leones Canyon trails

The Los Leones Canyon trailhead, here in Pacific Palisades, continues to reward those who make the climb with sweeping views of the coastline below. As with all trails in a recovering landscape, check current conditions and any closures before you set out.

Getty Villa

The Getty Villa stands as a reminder that some things are built to last. Its recreated Roman architecture, its collections of Greek and Roman antiquities, and its ocean-touched gardens remain a place for quiet reflection. Before planning a visit, check the Getty’s website for current hours and access, as recovery-related conditions in the area can change.

Dining and cafés

Some of the neighborhood’s tables are set again — small, meaningful signs of life that a recovering community holds onto:

Moku Sushi (524 Palisades Drive) — open for Japanese cuisine.
Spruzzo Restaurant & Bar (538 Palisades Drive) — open for Italian food and drinks.
Palisades Garden Café (15231 La Cruz Drive) — open for casual daily dining.
Gladstones (17300 Pacific Coast Highway) — open for coastal dining.
Chipotle (15207 Sunset Boulevard) — open for quick-service meals.
Starbucks (514 Palisades Drive) — open.
BOCA (970 Monument Street) — open.

Hours and offerings may still be settling as the community recovers, so it’s worth checking ahead before you go.

Groceries, pharmacy, and everyday essentials

The ordinary places that make a neighborhood livable are open and serving residents:

Vons (17380 Sunset Boulevard) — grocery.
Canyon Grocer (169 W Channel Road) — grocery.
CVS (864 Swarthmore Avenue) — pharmacy and everyday needs.
Pali Rx Pharmacy (900 Via De La Paz) — pharmacy.
Anawalt’s Palisades Hardware (15130 Sunset Boulevard) — hardware and supplies.
Palisades Wine & Spirits (544 Palisades Drive).
Elizabeth Lamont (15231 Sunset Boulevard) — home goods and design.

What’s Rebuilding

Palisades Village reopens August 15, 2026

Perhaps the clearest milestone on the horizon: Palisades Village, the Caruso-owned heart of the community’s main street, is set to reopen to the public on August 15, 2026, following more than $100 million in restoration and cleanup after the fire. Its return marks more than the reopening of shops and restaurants — it restores a gathering place, and with it, a piece of the neighborhood’s daily fabric.

The community stays connected

The Palisadian-Post continues to publish online, keeping neighbors informed through the recovery. Gelson’s Supermarkets continues to sponsor the paper with a banner on its front page: “The Palisades is Home to Us. We’re proud to be a part of this community.” It’s a small but steady reminder that the businesses and institutions woven into daily life here remain invested in the neighborhood’s return.

Looking Forward

Recovery is not a straight line, and it is not finished. But the trajectory here is unmistakable: the coast is open, everyday essentials are serving residents, longtime favorites are coming back, and a rebuilt main street is weeks away. Pacific Palisades is writing its next chapter, and doing it on its own terms.

For those thinking about returning to the Palisades or putting down roots as the community rebuilds, having a local partner who knows this ground — its streets, its people, and its real estate market through both loss and recovery — matters more now than ever. Dahl Realtors lives and works in this community. If you have questions about the market, about specific streets, or about what a return might look like for you, we’re here to help you take the next step with clear eyes and steady guidance.

Author: Fellini Macanudo

Our Flag Was Still There: The Palisades Fourth of July Parade Returns