In celebration of creativity, community, and patriotic spirit, the City of South Pasadena, in collaboration with the South Pasadena Arts Council (SPARC), is proud to announce the winners of the 2026 4th of July Poster Contest.
This year, fifth-grade students from Arroyo Vista, Monterey Hills, Marengo, and Holy Family schools were invited to submit original artwork inspired by the theme, “From Sea to Shining Sea: 250 Years of the American Spirit.” The City received 103 entries, each reflecting the imagination, creativity, and artistic talent of South Pasadena’s youth.
Following a selection process based on creativity, originality, and interpretation of the theme, six finalists were chosen. From those finalists, the South Pasadena City Council voted to determine the top three winners:
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First Place: Damon Qiu, Marengo Elementary
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Second Place: Emily Chiu, Marengo Elementary
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Third Place: Ansel Ho, Marengo Elementary
The winning artists will be honored as part of the City’s 4th of July festivities. They will have the opportunity to ride in the parade and will receive complimentary tickets for themselves and their families to attend the City’s fireworks celebration.
For the second year, all poster submissions will be proudly displayed at the South Pasadena Arts Council Chamber Gallery, located at 1121 Mission Street. This gallery exhibit provides the community with a more immersive opportunity to enjoy the students’ artwork while helping preserve and protect the original pieces, replacing the previous tradition of displaying posters along Mission Street.
A Poster Art Reception will be held on Saturday, June 13, from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Community members are encouraged to visit the SPARC Chamber Gallery to view the full collection and celebrate the artistic voices of South Pasadena’s young artists. The gallery will be open to the public on Saturday, July 4, 2026, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Please follow @SouthPasadenaArtCouncil on Instagram for gallery hours and updates.
“This contest is a meaningful way to celebrate the creativity of our students and connect them to one of South Pasadena’s most beloved community traditions,” said Melissa Snyder, Community Services Director. “We are proud of each student who participated and helped bring their year’s theme to life through their art.”
The City congratulates this year’s winners and extends its appreciation to every fifth-grade student who shared their artwork and helped make this year’s contest a success.
For more information about the City’s 4th of July celebration, please visit www.southpasadenaca.gov/events.
