Flag-Waving Fourth : Huntington Beach Parade Draws 250,000 as Holiday Crowds Pack Beaches

Skateboards whizzed past baby strollers and neon bikinis clashed with camouflage military uniforms Tuesday as Orange County residents jammed beaches, lined parade routes and flocked to parks and back yards to celebrate the nation’s 213th birthday in a party atmosphere under sunny skies.

An estimated 250,000 people, lining curbs eight deep in places, attended the85th annual Fourth of July Parade in Huntington Beach. And there was plenty to see: 31 floats accompanied by clowns, bands, horses, antique cars, and veterans and military groups among the 350 other entries.

“The floats! Mom, I want to be on the floats!” screamed 6-year-old Heather James, watching a float carrying the parade court.

“No, dear, maybe when you’re older,” responded her mother, Cindi.

Some people came to be seen. Some sat on curbs. Others escaped temperatures in the 90s by hiding under umbrellas, trees or large hats.

From beneath the brim of a white lace hat decorated with a dozen miniature flags, Rose Milford, 66, explained: “Honey, I just want to show I’m proud of this country.”

Side streets were jammed in Huntington Beach as crowds struggled to find parking. But residents along the parade route on Main Street didn’t have to worry about that; they camped out on their lawns, roofs or patios to soak up the atmosphere.

“You’re guaranteed of a spot, but the crowds can be a pain,” said Frank Ritchie, relaxing with a beer in a lawn chair in front of his friend’s house. “The women, though. Just unbelievable.”

Several trees along the two-mile parade route were decorated with stars or colored paper. One was bedecked with a scroll signed by residents reading, “We the people declare all Constitutional rights.”

In contrast with the hoopla of Huntington Beach, several dozen residents of a Placentia neighborhood took part in what could be the shortest Independence Day parade in Orange County, the 26th annual Hamer Drive Independence Parade.

The loosely organized march around the block lasted all of 10 minutes and consisted of children riding and pushing just about anything on wheels: bicycles, skateboards, wagons and toy shopping carts. Even the neighborhood dogs took part, decorated in holiday colors.

The block parade brought the neighborhood out in force. Several residents said it is the only time current and former residents can get together to share times past.

“There are a few parents who get into it,” said Aaron McGuire, a parade organizer whose front lawn on the 4800 block of Hamer Drive was invaded by the neighborhood.

“We let people govern themselves,” McGuire said, later watching what began as a tight formation turn into a loose armada parading down the street in pursuit of the free ice cream cones that would be dished out afterward. “If it really got organized, it wouldn’t work.”

Residents said many people who took part in the parade as youngsters often

return with children of their own.

“It kind of makes you feel old,” said Bonnie Cullum, who grew up on the block.

Other Orange County residents looking for a party headed for the beach Tuesday. More than 600,000 people jammed county beaches, some looking for more than an hour to find parking.

A few who improvised found when they returned that their cars had been towed away.

By early afternoon, 35 cars had been towed from a shopping center at 32nd Street and Balboa Boulevard in Newport Beach, despite 30 signs and three spotters warning people not to park there.

Motorists had to pay $69 to retrieve a towed car, said Mark Cappello, a driver for Harbor Towing, and $20 just to get a car returned to earth after it had been hoisted.

“I feel lucky--I just got here,” said Ramon Acosta, 28, of Anaheim after rescuing his car from the grip of one tow truck.

For those lucky enough to find parking, there was just enough room on the beach to spread out blankets.

By late afternoon, Kirk McDonald, a Newport Beach city trash collector, said, “The pier is gridlock, and it’s nearly impossible to get access to the trash cans.”

Four-year-old Christina Flores of Rancho Cucamonga wondered when she would get to the water after her father, Carlos, spent an hour finding a parking spot a mile away from 15th Street.

“I want to go to the water today,” she said.

Despite their numbers, people generally were well behaved, police said, unlike two years ago, when a riot broke out in the evening.

Newport Beach motorcycle Officer Ron Vallercamp, patrolling an area near Newport Pier, said he was looking for anyone drinking alcohol in order “to cut down on rowdiness later on.” In one hour, he arrested just one person for drunkenness. “He was a nice guy when he woke up,” Vallercamp said.

Lifeguards at Newport Beach reported a busy day. Lifeguard Derrick Chapman said some parts of the beach were so crowded that it was difficult getting rescue vehicles to the scene.

“We’ve been in and out of the water all day,” Chapman said, jumping off his tower and dashing into the water.

Other lifeguards had some time to share some trade secrets.

“The best-looking girls are between 40th Street and 48th Street,” said lifeguard Brent Rannek. “This is a well-known fact in the lifeguard grapevine.”

Cathy Steiner, 18, of Anaheim Hills, rented a bike with her friend, Annie May, 18. Both are recent graduates of high school and had mapped out their strategy for the day. “We want to ride bikes, get a tan and go to a party--go where the boys are,” Steiner said.

Don VanTassel, 29, of Newport Beach and his friend Jennifer Bagan, 21, said: “We’re going bicycling and bar hopping. It’s not safe on the streets.”

Enough people agreed to keep the bicycle business booming for Jack Briggs, owner of 15th Street Surf Shop, who reported a busy day for boogie boards as well. Four bicycles and 18 boards were re-rented as soon as they were returned. “I do half my business in July and August,” he said. “This is when it happens.”

Bob Cadmus, owner of a Baskin-Robbins store on Newport Boulevard, said his business was hopping too, particularly for cakes and pies.

“You get weather like this--we pray for,” he said.

Times staff writer Kevin O’Leary contributed to this story.