Celebrating 50 years at Dunes with a bang

Newport Dunes Waterfront Resort will commemorate 50 years of Fourth of July festivities and operations with its largest fireworks spectacular ever.

Andrew Theodorou, the resort’s vice president and general manager, said his pyrotechnics company is promising the best show the resort has ever seen.

Newport Dunes, which opened in 1958 as the Harry Welsh Memorial Aquatic Park and has held fireworks shows ever since, is calling it the largest pyrotechnic display in the history of the region.

In addition to the fireworks show, an all-day festival is planned.

Those who stay on site, in the marina, RV sites or cottages, will receive five wristbands.

Every car that enters will pay a $50 fee for up to five wristbands; visitors are encouraged to carpool.

The wristbands are good for activities from 1 to 7 p.m. Volleyball tournaments, a limbo contest and other sports games will be held throughout the afternoon.

Gates will open at 7 a.m. To pay tribute to the event’s roots, activities will include a barbecue, horseshoe contests, a cake walk, bean bag toss, ring toss and other vintage-style games.

“We will have large inflatable rides and slides this year,” Theodorou said.

The resort has played home to tens of thousands of RVers and vacationers over the years, who come for the climate and stay for a variety of water activities and a waveless beach.

Along with numerous 50th-anniversary festivities, the resort is also renovating its Back Bay Café into a more upscale establishment.

For more information, call (949) 729-DUNE or visit newportdunes.com.

CANDICE BAKER can be reached at (949) 494-5480 or at candice.baker@latimes.com.