RANCHO MURIETA, CA (MPG) - Rancho Murieta sparkled from morning to night as residents celebrated a patriotic Independence Day on July 4, enjoying the best weather in recent memory.

The day began at 7 a.m. with beaming Kiwanis Club members serving breakfast at Stonehouse Park, and it ended just before 10 p.m. with spectacular fireworks over Laguna Joaquin. 

In between, smiling and outgoing neighbors mingled at the fun run, watched or participated in what may have been the largest parade down Murieta Parkway and dropped in for an evening dance party at the gazebo. 

As folks lined up, whether for the race or breakfast, hundreds of others were using blankets and lawn chairs to reserve a view of Laguna Joaquin for that night. They would not be disappointed by what was to come: a many-minute display of pyrotechnics that concluded with a grand finale.

Rancho Murieta General Manager Rod Hart said this year’s weather was a welcome change, especially compared to last year’s heat wave. “For the first time, my family members were looking for hoodies to put on as they watched the fireworks show,” he said.

Hart noted that the celebration went smoothly, with no significant issues reported across the community, just the occasional use of illegal fireworks. 

“We made sure we had plenty of law enforcement around to make sure the whole place stayed safe,” he said.

Rancho Murieta Association Director Wyly Haviland, who chairs the Recreation Committee, said the group organized the parade, judged the entries and recruited volunteers to help direct traffic.

The committee members “did an outstanding job turning the fun-filled chaos in the staging area into an orderly procession down the parkway,” Haviland said.

There were four prize categories for the parade: vintage automobiles, walkers, floats and golf carts. Although the judges encountered some challenges, they ultimately selected the Betsy Ross float as the grand prize winner “as it represented the day beautifully as the giant flag glided down the parade route to the delight of the gathered spectators,” he said.

Haviland also noted that most of the volunteers in fluorescent vests directing traffic were RMA Board members. 

“Longtime parade participants commented that the crowds lining the street were the largest they had ever seen, with enthusiastic cheers filling the air from start to finish,” he said. “The little ones were equally thrilled, proudly declaring they collected more candy this year than ever before.”

Haviland said one of the most moving moments in the parade came when a Veterans of Foreign Wars trailer passed by. 

“In a truly genuine tribute, the majority of spectators rose to their feet: a quiet but powerful show of respect for the sacrifices made by those who served so we could all enjoy the freedoms we celebrate.”

The parade results weren’t available at press time but will be published in the next issue.

Kiwanians Bonnie Shewchuk and Angie Friedrich oversaw the pancake breakfast, which opened at 7 a.m. and served hundreds of attendees. Although the ticket count wasn’t available at press time, last year the Kiwanis team served 800 breakfasts.

The menu featured scrambled eggs, pancakes and sausage, served with orange juice, coffee and condiments. Kiwanians grilled the pancakes and sausage on site, while the scrambled eggs were prepared in the country club kitchen and transported to the park.

Blueberry pancakes were offered for the second year, thanks to Rancho Murieta resident Kasey Cronquist, president of the North American Blueberry Council.

Kiwanis President Bill Kenney said the only hiccup came around 8:15 a.m. when a surge of customers briefly caused a pancake shortage. 

“But that was the only issue, and it was quickly resolved by the cooks,” he said.

Scout Troop 633 assisted with setup, and RMA Maintenance provided additional support. 

“We provided breakfast for all the helpers,” Kenney noted.

Overall, the event went swimmingly. 

“It was another successful year.”

Although the fun run has been a tradition for around 45 years, Murieta Health Club owner Erin Bailey began sponsoring the free event 15 years ago. 

“I love being part of this community, and as the local gym owner, it allows us to support and encourage an active lifestyle for all ages,” she said.

Beginning and ending at the gazebo, the fun run includes a 5 kilometer route and a shorter option, with both starting at 7:30 a.m. This year’s event drew about 300 participants – the largest turnout to date – with many walkers, strollers, bikes and scooters. A dozen dogs also joined in the fun.

“The turnout was incredible and was the biggest I have ever seen,” Bailey said. 

About 25 members of the Pleasant Grove High School cross-country team led the pack. Tyler Tumlinson finished first in the men’s division with a time of 15:54, while Samantha Brink took first in the women’s division with a time of 19:32.

The children’s fun run had a new category for youngsters 2 and under this year in addition to the usual categories from 5 to 10 years old.

One toddler ran a short distance with encouragement from her father, while another stood still before bursting into tears. Both received prizes, as did all the children who participated in the event.

Among the spectators at this year’s fun run was Jim Moore, who came to cheer on his wife. 

“Let the Fourth be with you,” he joked.

The Rancho Murieta Association hosted a dance party at the gazebo beginning at 7 p.m., featuring a DJ. Friends, families and children took to the dance floor early in the evening.

Around 8:30 p.m., as many attendees left to watch the fireworks from other locations, a large group of teenagers arrived and took over the gazebo area.

The teens danced in tight circles, enthusiastically shouting the lyrics to popular songs. When the fireworks show began, they paused to watch, calling out patriotic cheers throughout the display. Once it ended, they returned to dancing until the music wrapped up at 10:15 p.m.

Two years ago, a group of about 100 teenagers – some of them intoxicated – gathered on the basketball court in front of the gazebo just before the fireworks show began. One youth set off an explosive firework that caused minor injuries to some bystanders. Authorities identified him the following day.

Hart, who had worked in Rancho Murieta for more than 40 years, said it was the first incident of its kind during a July 4 celebration. 

“It’s a big bummer, and we are going to work diligently to make sure this doesn’t happen again,” he pledged afterward.

Hart said security planning for this year’s event began with a coordination meeting involving RMA compliance officers, CSD security, two sheriff’s deputies and patrol officers from a private security company. 

“We never had less than four uniformed security personnel at the gazebo for the entire event, and most of the time, there were probably six,” he said. Security teams also patrolled recreation areas around the lakes and the river.

“We were hoping that we wouldn’t have to interrupt anyone’s good time,” Hart said. “But just having that presence changes people’s behavior.”

Hart said he was pleased with this year’s fireworks show, which he believes continues to improve each year. The grand finale appeared to last longer than in previous years, and to enhance the experience, the pyrotechnics technicians introduced new angles to the display for improved viewing.

While RMA has had a strong working relationship with Pyro Spectaculars over the years, last year’s show faced challenges due to the extreme heat. A company supervisor had contacted a labor pool to hire six to eight technicians to assist with preparations for the Rancho Murieta display, but was unable to find anyone willing to work in the high temperatures.

Four RMA Maintenance workers stepped into the breach, working through miserable conditions to ensure the fireworks show could go on as scheduled. The staffing shortage also led to the cancellation of last year’s dance party at the gazebo, as fire marshals cordoned off the area for safety until RMA staff could complete the necessary setup.

Reflecting on this year’s ideal conditions, Haviland offered this summary: “Once again, Rancho Murieta came together in a spirited celebration of the Fourth of July: a day when our community sets aside its differences to honor the freedom that makes America the land of the free and the home of the brave,” he said.