Patriotism is on display as crowds watch the opening flag procession during the 2018 Martinez Fourth of July Parade. The city has decided to cancel this year's event because of COVID-19 concerns, joining many Bay Area cities that have made similar moves. (Photo by Sam Richards/Bay City News Foundation)

With little hope of public gatherings being allowed by July, the Martinez City Council has become the most recent Bay Area city to cancel its Fourth of July celebrations, voting Wednesday night to suspend the popular fireworks show and annual Independence Day parade.

By a 5-0 vote, council members gave City Manager Eric Figueroa permission to cancel the events. Deputy City Manager Michael Chandler said a cancellation is all but certain, and that it would take some surprising and drastic changes, like county health officers’ relaxing of social distancing rules, to allow the events to proceed.

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