The Pursuit of Happiness : Fourth of July Revelers Gather to Frolic, Feast, Celebrate the Flag

From a street fair in Ventura to a park in Thousand Oaks, Ventura County began the Fourth of July with eyes focused at ground level--on parades and patriotic speakers--but ended by staring skyward at spectacular fireworks displays.

It was a day when just about every ingredient for a good time fell into place: bright, sunny weather, lots of activities and no major problems, officials said.

By evening, Ventura County fire officials had not responded to any fires sparked by fireworks. Last Fourth of July, they were sent out on 25 small fires and five people were hospitalized with fireworks-related injuries.

The biggest daytime event took place in Ventura, where a children’s parade kicked off a street fair that drew thousands to the roped-off downtown.

Hundreds of children--many dressed in red, white and blue--lined up as early as 9:30 a.m. to take part in the “Push ‘Em, Pull ‘Em” parade--a collection of decorated wagons, tricycles, skateboards and scooters.

Near the starting point, Vincent O’Neill Sr. sat in a lawn chair next to his 4-year-old grandson, Matt, who was visiting from Portland, Ore.

“Oh, look at the flags, Matt,” O’Neill exclaimed. The boy sat up in his chair, but seemed less enthusiastic than his grandfather.

“They don’t have this in Oregon,” O’Neill explained.

Brenda Phillips was trying to hold together the wagon she had customized with a cardboard box for her 5-year-old daughter, Allie. The woman seemed a bit frustrated as she marched through the parade with the box hanging off the wagon while Allie scampered around in a Pebbles outfit.

“I always end up pulling the wagon, and she always ends up walking,” said Phillips, a veteran of four Fourth of July parades.

Carol Eiland snapped photos of parade participants, such as the half-dozen children chugging along dressed as box cars. “They look so cute,” Eiland cooed.

“We’ve been in this parade at least six years,” said Dorcie Garcken, who supervised the children, all from the same Ventura neighborhood. “But this is our first group effort.”

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One of the busiest areas at the street fair was the “First Sunday in the Park” arts and crafts show. Never mind that it was Monday.

“You can only show your work here if you have an original craft,” said Elena Brokaw, of the city’s cultural affairs office.

Drew Lurie of Oak View had original crafts: ceramic flutes and whistles shaped like animals. “This is my squeeze for making money,” he said.

Leslie Stone was painting portraits at $15 a shot. By 11:30 a.m., she had sold four.

“I have portraits of my children that were drawn at Disneyland,” said Lois Crumpacker, commissioning a portrait of her two grandchildren to hang next to the others on her bedroom wall.

Everyone seemed to be in the holiday spirit--especially over on Main Street, where the Leroy Andrews Band played Dixieland and nonprofit groups sold food.

How was business?

“Good, good, we’ve had a steady line all day,” said Joe Benser of the Elks, whose group was selling tri-tip.

At the Flavorful Fantasies ice cream stand, Dick Meeks said business started booming as soon as the sun burst through the morning fog. “You need sunshine for ice cream,” he explained.

Authorities estimated street fair attendance at 30,000 to 40,000.

Conejo Valley Park in Thousand Oaks didn’t attract that many people, but it was crowded nonetheless as about 250 picnickers played volleyball and soccer and tossed Frisbees. Charcoal grills filled the air with the rich smells of barbecue.

“For us, the Fourth of July is always a day of fellowship and relaxation,” said Gary Thrasher, 43.

Nearby, Carol Lappinga, 32, mixed cream and boysenberries to make ice cream. “This is a time to be grateful for everything that we have in our lives, especially friends,” she said.

Not far away, 36-year-old Tommy Scott peered into a portable television to keep tabs on the soccer match between the United States and Brazil. Scott used to live in Brazil and didn’t think it was unpatriotic to root for the South American team.

“There is no place like America,” he declared. “ But when it comes to soccer, I really favor Brazil.”

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At a city-sponsored picnic at Arroyo Vista Community Park in Moorpark, the patriotic significance of the holiday was not forgotten.

Dressed in a green World War II uniform decorated with 12 medals, 73-year-old Manuel Eneriz recalled how he and thousands of other Americans fought for freedom in the Philippines. In graphic detail, he described seeing comrades die.

“I looked up in the heavens, hoping that our dear Lord would take heed and that a miracle would happen,” Eneriz said.

Scanning a crowd that included two dozen children, he added:

“I am proud today to be able to help young people understand the high price we have paid for our freedom. For me, every day is a freedom day.”