Fourth of July in Pacific Palisades

Molly Mercer, 21, places Fourth of July decorations in a tree in front of her home in Pacific Palisades. Over the years, competition in a home decorating contest for the holiday has become hard core.   (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)

Marlo Harris, 4, plays in the frontyard of her family’s Pacific Palisades home on Toyopa Drive, which is along the Fourth of July parade route.  (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)

Arnie Wishnick, executive director of the Pacific Palisades Chamber of Commerce, has two responsibilities when it comes to the community’s annual Fourth of July parade: finding celebrities to appear at the event and securing portable toilets along the route.  (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)

Sarah Kelly shows off her red, white and blue fingernails. She has directed a documentary about the Pacific Palisades parade, titled “Palisades Parade,” that recently had its premiere at Palisades Charter High School.  (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)

A replica of the Statue of Liberty holds an American flag in front of a home in Pacific Palisades in honor of the Fourth of July.  (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)

Marlo Harris, 4, waves an American flag while walking past a white picket fence decorated for Fourth of July celebrations in Pacific Palisades.  (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)

Flowers and American flags rest inside a patriotic planter next to more American flags, part of the Fourth of July decorations in the frontyard of a home in Pacific Palisades.  (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)

Luann Williams takes a break from mounting U.S. flags in the frontyard of her Pacific Palisades home for the Fourth of July.  (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)