RANCHO MURIETA, CA (MPG) - Hundreds of residents and visitors lined Murieta Parkway for the parade as Rancho Murieta celebrated America’s 250th birthday with the largest Fourth of July turnout that longtime residents can remember, capping the day with an expanded fireworks spectacular honoring the nation’s semi-quincentennial.

The community’s signature annual celebration began at 7 a.m. with the Kiwanis Club’s pancake breakfast at Stonehouse Park, followed a half-hour later by the 46th annual Fun Run. The festivities continued with the Fourth of July parade, evening music and dancing at the gazebo, and concluded with an enhanced fireworks display over Laguna Joaquin.

A row of Betsy Ross flags along the lake, and a giant American flag suspended from the new RMA aerial lift, underscored this year’s special anniversary.

Preparations for the milestone celebration began almost as soon as last year’s event ended. 

“Planning for this auspicious event started before the street sweepers made their final pass down the parade route last year,” Recreation Committee Chairman Wylie Haviland said, crediting the RMA Maintenance Department with planning special features to celebrate the nation’s 250th anniversary.

“Through their efforts, the community looked outstanding for both visitors and residents alike as the flags flew proudly along the parkway,” he said.

Haviland also praised RMA board members, who manned the intersections in the parade and kept traffic flowing. 

“Many longtime residents commented on the outpouring of community spirit, and the overwhelming number of families as they recalled the memories of parades spent with their own grandchildren growing up in Rancho Murieta,” Haviland said.

Neighbors gathered early at Stonehouse Park for the Kiwanis Club’s annual pancake breakfast before heading to the day’s activities.

Organizers said the breakfast is intended to give back to the community rather than raise money, with ticket prices set only high enough to cover expenses. Kiwanis members were joined by volunteers from the Rancho Murieta, Pleasant Grove and Sheldon high school Key Clubs, as well as numerous community volunteers.

New resident Samuel Gee, who moved to South Rancho Murieta about a year ago, said the breakfast illustrated what makes Rancho Murieta different from Sacramento, where he grew up. “Everyone seems to care,” he said, pointing to the volunteers working together to serve their neighbors.

About 250 runners and walkers participated in the 46th annual Fun Run, approximately the same as last year, according to race director John McNamee.

Murieta Health Club owner Erin Howard Bailey, whose business has sponsored the event for the past 18 years, said she has watched participation evolve over the years, with more families and dogs joining the annual tradition. This year, she was especially pleased to see more children choosing to run or bike the 5K instead of participating in the shorter children’s run.

The top male and female runners were Kyle Wenthe and Delaney Rasmussen. Both are members of the Pleasant Grove High School Cross Country team.

The parade once again proved to be the centerpiece of the celebration.

Longtime residents Vernon and Linda Wallace said they had never seen so many spectators lining both sides of Murieta Parkway and setting up chairs in the median. Vernon Wallace said he was especially encouraged to see the nationwide celebration of America’s 250th birthday reflected in Rancho Murieta’s enthusiastic turnout.

Patriotism dominated this year’s golf cart entries. At least 43 golf carts were decorated in red, white and blue – more than in previous years – while another 15 to 20 featured imaginative themes.

Roger Brandt quite literally “took the cake” with a handcrafted wooden three-tier birthday cake celebrating America’s 250th anniversary mounted atop his golf cart.

Other golf carts were transformed into a locomotive trailing pink smoke, a NASCAR race car, Frozen, Alice in Wonderland, a tropical tiki display, an under-the-sea scene, a rolling hot dog stand complete with waitresses, and ended with a camouflaged swamp boat complete with reeds, duck decoys and accompanied by a self-propelled couch. Participants added to the festive atmosphere with patriotic costumes, face paint, and elaborate red, white and blue body art.

The parade also featured two Rancho Murieta Little League All-Star teams, Veterans of Foreign Wars members riding on a decorated trailer, Scout Troop 633, the pickleball club, vintage automobiles, an antique fire engine, and a lifted diesel pickup that periodically belched black exhaust.

Starbucks employees walked the parade route offering complimentary Pup Cups to children, while the Vitalant bloodmobile delighted youngsters with its mascot, Drippy the Blood Drop. Bonnie Kirshmann, who rode with the Vitalant entry, said children seemed fascinated by Drippy and enthusiastically waved as the mascot passed by.

Haviland said organizers were thrilled with the overwhelming turnout and community spirit, although they were disappointed that a handful of younger participants ignored the parade rules prohibiting confetti cannons and commercial vehicle signage despite repeated reminders from volunteers.

Haviland said a special addition to this year’s festivities was the Veterans of Foreign Wars Auxiliary booth, where they gave out over 150 hot dogs and gallons of cold drinks to give back to the community. Member Diane Dunajski-Tibbetts also reported that the auxiliary’s raffle of an elaborate basket raised more than $1,000, thanks to the generosity of Rancho Murieta residents.

Gazebo Music

As evening approached, families and friends gathered at the north gazebo for music and dancing by DJ Suite D. As families drifted away to watch the fireworks, dozens of teenagers gathered in the gazebo to dance and watch them together.

A live performance of “The Star-Spangled Banner” by Audrey Langstroth preceded the fireworks, while the DJ played patriotic music throughout the show.

The expanded fireworks display provided a fitting finale to the community’s celebration.

To commemorate America’s 250th birthday, the Recreation Committee proposed enhancing this year’s show, and the RMA Board approved additional funding. More than 940 aerial shells were launched over Laguna Joaquin, creating the most elaborate fireworks displays in the event’s history.

The show’s signature feature was a series of spectacular gold aerial effects, a hallmark of high-end professional fireworks displays. Giant gold willow and brocade shells burst high above the lake into shimmering curtains of light whose glowing trails lingered for several seconds before slowly cascading toward the water. Unlike traditional bursts that disappear almost instantly, the brilliant gold canopies seemed to float across the night sky, giving the finale an elegant, almost cascading effect that spectators are unlikely to forget.

“When I mentioned there was going to be a lot of gold in this year’s display, I was not kidding,” Haviland said afterward. “The spectators were treated to a truly spectacular display befitting our nation’s birthday.”