Lions have some bigger fish to fry

Deirdre Newman

While barbecues usually herald the start of summer, in Costa Mesa the

harbinger comes in the form of fish -- fried fish, to be exact.

The Costa Mesa-Newport Harbor Lions Club Fish Fry returns this

weekend, and the historic event is bringing back a special attraction

from the past -- the Miss Costa Mesa Pageant.

The pageant’s prize is a $500 scholarship to the recipient’s

college of choice. Former Police Chief Dave Snowden, who used to be

the master of ceremonies for the pageants, will be back as well.

“I think the pageant is not only good for the city, but it gives

the kids something to shoot for -- they get a scholarship,” Snowden

said. “It gives these young ladies a chance to show how talented they

are, how well they can speak in public. I think it’s a positive

thing.”

The Fish Fry started in 1946 when Rollo McClellan and some of his

buddies got together and started an event for the community.

Eventually, a parade down Harbor Boulevard was added. The event

attracted about 100,000 in its heyday in the early 1990s. The parade

was ultimately a victim of its own success and was canceled in 1999

because it became too difficult to shut down Harbor Boulevard.

The event floundered after Arlene Wolff claimed she hurt her ankle

at the 2000 Fish Fry when stepping off a curb at Orange Coast

College. The civil lawsuit was settled out of court for $30,000.

The event raises money for schools and local organizations such as

the Boys and Girls Club and Little League. Last year, it raised

$27,000.

The Fish Fry ran for 57 years before Wolff’s lawsuit put it on

hold for two years. While the main attraction is the fish, a carnival

and other entertainment also compete for attention. This year’s Fish

Fry will feature more diverse entertainment than last year, including

blues, swing, jazz and Latino music, Lions Club President Raul Jara

said.

There will also be more rides catering to adults and games to

play. The grand prize for the raffle will be an $800 travel voucher,

and other prizes will also be given away throughout the weekend.

Jara said he is hoping to see a large turnout this weekend.

“We’d like to see the community support, because this is something

that is of rich tradition that many people have known for many

years,” Jara said. “We, as Lions, feel it’s an important event to be

able to give back to the community and the different organizations

that are around.”

* DEIRDRE NEWMAN covers Costa Mesa. She may be reached at (949)

574-4221 or by e-mail at deirdre.newman@latimes.com.