Celebrations of independence

Claudia Figueroa

The Fourth of July in Costa Mesa and Newport Beach will be filled with

revelers partying at beaches and parks, wide-eyed kids twirling sparklers

and plenty of folks staying home to grill hamburgers and hot dogs.

But community members are gearing up for a few Independence Day

festivities for those who want to break out of the house for a few hours.

This year’s lineup includes a array of activities and entertainment for

families and singles, including a pancake breakfast, picnics, musical

performances, a carnival and numerous fireworks spectacles.

The Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3536 will light off the day with its

annual pancake breakfast, a complete morning buffet dishing up buttermilk

pancakes, bacon, sausage, eggs and orange juice. There will even be a

raffle for a patriotic quilt.

Organizers say the buffet draws between 300 to 350 people each year.

“It’s one breakfast people look forward to,” said VFW Commander Bud Hohl.

“Some of us are real dedicated. That’s why we’ve had the same customers

for 25 years.”

Newport Dunes Resort will host its 42nd annual Fourth of July celebration

at the 100-acre waterfront resort, where families may relax, picnic and

play. During the day, there will be carnival-style games, crafts,

face-painting and drawings by caricaturists and a limbo contest, as well

as a visit by Uncle Sam and resort mascot Moe B. Dunes. A 20-minute

fireworks show will blast into the sky at 9 p.m. to cap the event.

The Jewish Community Center of Orange County in Costa Mesa will celebrate

Independence day by hosting a luncheon and performance by the tap dance

ensemble Happy Hoofers.

A bicycle parade will start rolling at 10 a.m. for Newport Beach’s 27th

annual Mariners Park Independence Day celebration on Commodore Road,

followed by games, contests and entertainment by Barnaby the Clown.

Other park program highlights will include a performance by the Newport

Harbor High School Junior Varsity cheerleaders at 9:30 a.m., a colossal

slide, a giant obstacle course and a 28-foot Rocky Mountain climbing

challenge. Opportunity drawings and door prizes will be conducted

throughout the day. Barbecued hot dogs and other refreshments also will

be available.

Darin Loughrey, Newport Beach’s Community Services Department recreation

manager, said the event -- which is sponsored by the city and the

Mariners School Foundation -- is geared toward families.

“It’s unique because it brings people together for celebration early and

allows families to spend the rest of the day to have a picnic and observe

fireworks,” Loughrey said.

The Costa Mesa Senior Center will host a Fourth of July barbecue lunch

with door prizes, raffles and a performance by the musical quartet Undone

Symphony.

The Old Glory Boat Parade will sparkle with decorated crafts sailing and

motoring around Newport Harbor for the “Fourth of July Tour.” Boaters

compete for best decoration honors.

Peter White will perform jazz music in the Hyatt Newporter’s outdoor

amphitheater. Concertgoers may view the fireworks show at the Back Bay

following the performance.

Finally, Piecemakers Country Store will host a grass-roots celebration

with country music, an abundance of food and demonstrations by more than

130 vendors, who will display their handcrafted wares.

Piecemakers spokeswoman Anne Sorensen said the store begins preparations

for the event a week in advance, while most of the craftspeople prepare

for the event year-round.

“That’s why people come back time after time, because the quality of the

crafts are the best in the county,” she said. “And, we make the best

homemade ice cream.”

Sorensen said some of the highlights Tuesday will be The Piecemakers

country singers, cloggers and a women’s barbershop quartet.