Fireworks Expected to Attract Big Crowd : Ventura: Police fear that good weather and cancellation of Santa Monica’s show will draw too many people.

Ventura police are braced for what could be a deluge of revelers at the city’s waterfront Saturday for the annual July 4 pre-dawn fireworks show.

Good weather and the cancellation of Santa Monica’s early-morning fireworks display are expected to draw crowds to the Ventura show, the first of dozens of Independence Day events in the county.

Last year’s pre-dawn fog dampened the light show, but the warm and clearer weather in this year’s forecast should boost attendance at festivities that range from pancake breakfasts in Thousand Oaks and Ojai to evening fireworks in seven of the county’s 10 cities.

For the first time in five years, the city of Santa Monica has called off its dawn fireworks display, leaving Ventura as the only spot for miles around for an early-morning--rather than evening--show.

In the past, the Santa Monica fireworks display has drawn as many as 200,000 people to the city’s beaches and bluffs. Ventura police are concerned that many of them will now make the pre-dawn trek to Ventura, where the show will be staged off the city’s pier beginning at 4:44 a.m.

“My goodness, with the volume they’ve had in Santa Monica, if 10% of those come, it will be double what we usually have,” said Sgt. George Morris, traffic coordinator for the event.

Weather predictions for Saturday are reasonably optimistic. Meteorologists say there probably will not be a repeat of last year’s dense fog that obscured the dawn show in Ventura.

Despite the “fireworks in pastels,” the fireworks display drew 10,000 to 15,000 people last year, Morris said.

Parking for the fireworks is limited to about 5,500 vehicles, mainly at San Buenaventura State Beach, the Ventura County Fairgrounds and downtown lots. A big influx of motorists from Los Angeles would swamp the parking supply, he said.

“I can’t park all those people,” Morris said.

Although he doesn’t predict gridlock on local streets and the Ventura Freeway, the city is beefing up its usual patrol staff with an additional 17 officers for the dawn event.

Most other police agencies routinely add personnel for the holiday. “It’s one of our busiest nights of the year,” said Lt. Gary Backman, watch commander for the Sheriff’s Department.

He said more officers are stationed in cities where large festivities are planned. Most of the police calls on July 4 usually are not serious, he said, with many of them concerning illegal fireworks.

In Santa Monica, city officials decided not to hold the annual fireworks show off the city’s pier because of the cost. By canceling it, the city will save $71,000.

“We’re feeling the pinch like everyone else,” Santa Monica Police Sgt. Bill Brucker said. He cited traffic problems and overtime expenses--exacerbated by the three-day holiday weekend this year.

However, “we’ve not taken it upon ourselves to direct them to Ventura,” he said.

The Ventura Visitors and Convention Bureau reported a swell of telephone calls from out-of-towners about the fireworks, parade and street fair on Saturday.

“I get the feeling there is more interest this year,” said Russ Smith, director of the bureau. Many of the motels and hotels in the Ventura area are booked, he said.

Weather forecasters are predicting low clouds to about 1,000 feet along the coast early Saturday morning.

“They should be high enough not to obscure the fireworks,” said Rea Strange at Pacific Weather Analysis in Montecito. Dawn temperatures are expected to be in the high 50s or low 60s.

The clouds are expected to burn off and give way to warm, clear weather with highs near 70 at the beach and in the high 70s or low 80s inland.

Fourth of July Festivities Independence Day celebrations will be held throughout Ventura County, with events such as parades, festivals and fireworks displays. CAMARILLO 2 p.m. Entertainment, activities Freedom Park at Camarillo Airport, 275 E. Pleasant Valley Road 9 p.m. Fireworks display Camarillo Airport FILLMORE 6:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Chili cook-off, entertainment, activities Central Park, Central Avenue at Santa Clara 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Car show Central Park 9 p.m. Fireworks display Fillmore High School, 555 Central Ave. OJAI 6 to 10 a.m. Pancake breakfast Ojai Auditorium, 414 E. Ojai Ave. 10 a.m Parade Ojai Avenue Noon Picnic, entertainment activities Sarzotti Park, Park Road and Ojai Avenue 7 p.m. Ventura County Symphony concert Libbey Park, Ojai Avenue and Signal Street 6 to 10 p.m. Entertainment, laser show, fireworks Nordhoff High School OXNARD 6 to 10 p.m Entertainment, fireworks Oxnard High School, 937 W. 5th St. SANTA PAULA 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Festival Veterans Memorial Park, 10th and Ventura streets 9 p.m. Fireworks display Harding Park, 1400 E. Harvard Blvd. SIMI VALLEY 9:45 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Music, exhibits, children’s parade Ronald Reagan Presidential Library, 40 Presidential Drive 7:30 p.m. Entertainment Simi Valley High School, 5400 Cochran St. 9 p.m. Fireworks display Simi Valley High School THOUSAND OAKS 8 to 11:30 a.m. Pancake breakfast Borchard Center, 190 Reino Road Noon to 5 p.m. Western festival Triunfo Canyon Park, 980 Aranmoor Ave. Noon to 11:30 p.m. Carnival California Lutheran University, 60 Olsen Road 3 to 5 p.m. Concert Conejo Community Park, 1300 Hendrix Ave. 9 p.m. Fireworks display The Oaks mall, 222 W. Hillcrest Drive VENTURA 4:44 a.m. Fireworks display Ventura Pier 10:30 a.m. Parade Main Street from Cemetery Park to Fir Street 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Street fair Main Street from Fir Street to Ventura Avenue 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Arts and crafts sale Plaza Park, Fir Street and Santa Clara Street SCHEDULE OF EVENTS: B5