Mouse Marshal to Help Brea Celebrate

Brea’s turning 75, and Mickey Mouse plans to be there for the birthday party.

The Disney character will act as celebrity grand marshal of the anniversary parade starting at 10 a.m. Saturday in front of the Brea Marketplace on Birch Street.

The parade, whose theme is Brea then and now, will reflect the city’s diverse history, from its beginnings as an oil and citrus farming town to today’s growing city of 34,000. The hourlong march will feature more than 150 entries including bands, floats, equestrian units, clowns and classic cars. One float will carry a large birthday cake and all 13 of the city’s surviving former mayors.

“I think the parade is a real old-fashioned way of saying to the community that this is what we are, and we are proud,” said Ret Wixted, Brea’s community services director. “It’s a way the community can celebrate itself, its history and what it has achieved.”

When Brea’s residents voted to incorporate in 1917, the town had a population of 732, most of whom worked in the city’s oil or citrus fields. The town’s name means tar in Spanish, which referred to its oil deposits.

Today, the citrus groves are all but gone, victims of the region’s shifting economy. “The mall and the freeway really changed Brea,” said Brian Saul, a member of the town’s historical society.

The Orange Freeway was completed in 1972, and Brea Mall opened in 1977; it is now the second-largest-grossing mall in the county, behind only Costa Mesa’s South Coast Plaza.

After the parade, which is expected to last about 90 minutes, residents and guests are invited to gather for a picnic at City Hall Park, 401 S. Brea Blvd., from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. It will feature games, dancing and special exhibitions for both children and adults.

Those attending may either bring their own lunch or buy food at the park. No cooking or alcoholic beverages will be permitted.

For children, there will be pony rides, an arts-and-crafts table and games arranged by local Girl Scout troops. Dance music will be provided by the Leon Guide Band, playing big band music, and the Rockodiles, stressing ‘50s tunes.

There will also be exhibitions of traditional Mexican and Japanese dances, courtesy of guests from Brea’s sister cities of Lagos, Mexico, and Hanno, Japan.

What: Brea’s Diamond Jubilee Parade and Picnic.

When: Saturday, May 16. Parade begins at 10 a.m., picnic is 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Where: Parade kicks off from Birch Street in front of the Brea Marketplace; the picnic is in City Hall Park, 401 S. Brea Blvd., Brea.

Whereabouts: From the Orange (57) Freeway, take the Imperial Highway exit and turn left onto the highway. Follow Imperial Highway past the Brea Mall until reaching Randolph Street, then turn right.

Wherewithal: Admission is free, but there will be a small fee for some of the children’s activities.

Where to Call: Brea Jubilee Hotline, (714) 990-7771.