FOUNTAIN VALLEY : Holiday Fiesta Offers Carnival Rides, Contests

With carnival rides and entertainment ranging from watermelon feasts to Hula-Hoop contests, the city’s 13th annual Fourth of July Fiesta opens today at Mile Square Regional Park.

“It’s the community coming together and having a real celebration,” said Pat Rogers, chairwoman of the event, sponsored by the Fountain Valley Chamber of Commerce. “It’s been like planning a big, big party.”

Rogers said more than 60,000 people are expected to attend the event, to run through Tuesday, the Fourth. Fiesta gates will open at 5 p.m. today and close at midnight. Hours Saturday through Tuesday are noon to midnight.

Larry Crandall, fiesta co-chairman, said the event is a fund-raiser for the chamber as well as an outreach event for the city.

In past years, hundreds of chamber volunteers staffed the fiesta. Last year, the chamber hired a professional company to do all the work and promotions.

“It got to be such a strain on the chamber to man the volunteer hours necessary, and quite frankly, a professional company can do it much better and easier,” Crandall said.

Last year’s promoter, H&D; Entertainment of Long Beach, raised $10,000 from the fiesta, Rogers said, and was rehired in the hope of exceeding last year’s total.

The fiesta’s fireworks show at 9 p.m. Tuesday will be the largest in Orange County, Crandall said.

The admission price of $5.95 includes unlimited access to rides, entertainment, contests and other activities.

Information: (714) 668-0542.