4th of July Poster Winners!

Isole Kim, Zoe Wong and Clare Maurer were selected the first, second and third place winners, respectively, in this year’s Festival of Balloons’ poster contest and will ride in South Pasadena’s 4th of July Parade

PHOTO: Bill Glazier | SouthPasadenan.com | The top three posters selected for this year’s 4th of July Festival of Balloons Parade have been selected. The winners are, from left, third place, Clare Maurer, Marengo Elementary School; first place, Isole Kim, Monterey Hills Elementary School; and third place Zoe Wong, Arroyo Vista Elementary School.

Three South Pasadena students are about to take a ride of their lifetime as they will roll down the city’s 4th of July parade route in a classic car showing their winning entries from the 2018 Festival of Balloons’ poster contest.

Every year, the parade committee asks 5th graders from Arroyo Vista, Marengo, Monterey Hills elementary schools, and Holy Family School to submit posters that will line the parade route up-and-down Mission Street from Diamond Avenue to Garfield Park.

This year’s top three winners among about 100-plus entries turned into the committee were first place Isole Kim, Monterey Hills; second place Zoe Wong, Arroyo Vista; and third place Clare Maurer.

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PHOTO: Bill Glazier | SouthPasadenan.com | The top three posters selected for this year’s 4th of July Festival of Balloons Parade have been selected. The winners are, from left, third place, Clare Maurer, Marengo Elementary School; first place, Isole Kim, Monterey Hills Elementary School; and third place Zoe Wong, Arroyo Vista Elementary School.

From the submissions, South Pasadena City Council selects the three winning posters from approximately 10 chosen for consideration by Festival of Balloons’ committee members.

The young finalists will be honored July 4th at 10:30 a.m. on the footsteps of the South Pasadena Library Community Room as part of the Festival of Balloons’ Opening Ceremony before they climb into a classic car for a chance to show their work to thousands of spectators lining the route from Diamond Avenue east to Garfield Park.

Kim, Maurer and Wong will also receive free entry into the 4th of July fireworks show at South Pasadena High School.

Joan Payne, the Festival of Balloons’ committee poster chair, has nothing but praise for the young artists who showcase their work along the parade route year after year. “The kids are so talented,” she said. “I think it shows great community spirit. It teaches the kids to involve themselves in our city. Just look at Mission Street where there are many posters lining the street for our community to enjoy.”