CAMARILLO : City May Cancel July 4th Celebration

Camarillo officials said the city may cancel its annual July 4th celebration, partly because an increasing number of residents are viewing the fireworks display from their cars rather than paying for admission.

The Camarillo Pageant Assn., the volunteer group that raises funds for the yearly Independence Day celebration at Camarillo Airport, lost $4,000 on the event last year, association director Rod Franz said.

Because the group cannot afford a similar loss this year, it will hold a public meeting to see if there is enough community interest and financial support to continue the festival.

Organizers are seeking $11,000 to $13,000 in donations for the event, said Caroline Paras, spokeswoman for the Pleasant Valley Recreation and Park District, which helps run the celebration each year.

The daylong July 4th celebration, which includes entertainment and refreshments, cost the pageant association more than $20,000 last year, with about $17,000 spent on fireworks, Franz said.

The volunteer group recouped only $12,000 at the gate from the 2,500 people who paid the admission price of $5 for adults and $3 for children and seniors.

“We’ve tried to make it into a day of family entertainment, but most people seem to come for the night fireworks,” Franz said.

About 3,000 of the people who came for the 9 p.m. pyrotechnics display discovered that they could see just as well by parking on the outskirts of the airport rather than paying the admission price, he said.

The pageant association meeting will be at 7 p.m. April 1 at the Camarillo Community Center at 1605 Burnley St.