Balboa Island Parade gets fired up

June Casagrande

NEWPORT BEACH -- It’s the biggest and smallest event in the city --

and this year it’s likely to get even bigger.

This year’s Balboa Island Parade is again shaping up to be a huge

success -- an impressive use of just a 2 1/2-block stretch of Marine

Avenue.

“Every year, it just gets more fun and more exciting,” said Fire Chief

Tim Riley. “It’s infectious.”

Riley will share the job of grand marshal with Police Chief Bob

McDonell for this year’s parade, themed “All Fired Up On Balboa Island”

-- a tribute to firefighters.

And, in keeping with that theme, parade planners have invited some

special guests -- several New York Fire Department firefighters who were

part of the Sept. 11 rescue efforts. Parade Chairman Craig Page said

everyone has crossed their fingers that those firefighters will accept

the invitation.

The parade started nine years ago as a way to celebrate the island’s

new fire station. And from there, Page said, it has just grown and grown.

“We live in one of the nicest places around,” Page said. “It’s a

celebration of Balboa.”

Events start off with a kids parade open to all children. Youngsters

who want to get in on the fun meet at the Balboa Bridge before the

parade. The parade usually draws about 60 entries -- everything from

homemade floats to families in golf carts to the Ensign Junior High

School Marching Band and an Uncle Sam on stilts. The parade continues

along Marine Avenue to Park Avenue, where the parade route ends and an

exhibit of antique cars begins.

“It’s so homespun, you’ve just got to see it to really get a feel for

what it’s all about,” said City Councilman Steve Bromberg, who will again

be among the Keystone Cops in the parade. “It’s something you would

expect to see in 1955. And it just gets better and better every year.

Last year, it drew about 4,000 people. This is better than the Rose Bowl

parade.”

FYI

The Balboa Island Parade is at 11 a.m. June 2 on Marine Avenue

beginning at the bridge. Show up early for a spot in the

standing-room-only crowd. Free to enter, though all participants must

complete an entry form. For more information, call (949) 675-1773.