Community Unity : Laguna Niguel Neighbors Get Together for Holiday Parade and Festival

The boys of Cub Scout Pack No. 771 didn’t get much sleep Friday night as they decorated their float for Saturday’s fifth annual Laguna Niguel Holiday Parade. Neither did Erik Peterson, father of one of the scouts, who helped the 50 young boys with their preparations.

But long before his 8-year-old son, Hunter, came marching down the street Saturday morning, Peterson was stationed along the parade route with his wife and daughter.

“Oh, here comes our float,” the proud father shouted as the outer-space-themed display came into sight.

After the candy-throwing and waving was over, the Peterson family followed the float down the parade route, stopping to chat every few steps with other parade-goers.

“It’s a wonderful event. You get to see a lot of people you know, like your neighbors,” Erik Peterson said. “I don’t think you can compare it to the Rose Parade, but as a community event, this parade is great.”

Laguna Niguel residents wouldn’t have it any other way. They like the close-knit atmosphere of the parade, and see it as a chance to get to know their community, including their newly elected officials.

“Hi Eddie, we voted for ya,” one woman along the parade route yelled as Councilman Eddie Rose inched by in a convertible.

Mayor Mark Goodman and various city officials rode down the parade route and mingled with the crowd afterward.

“It’s a fun thing for the family, plus you get to put faces with names, instead of just seeing (city officials) on television,” said Sylvia Rivera, who was lounging street-side with her husband and three children.

Even first-time viewers noticed the family-like atmosphere of the parade, which started when the city was incorporated on Dec. 1, 1989.

“This is my first time here, and from what I’ve seen, I think it’s more for the community to get out and get to know each other,” said Mary Hopkins, a Laguna Niguel resident who walked to the parade with her husband and three children. “I’ve noticed a lot of people waving to each other.”

The parade, which meandered its way down a two-mile stretch of Crown Valley Parkway, between Nueva Vista Drive and Niguel Road, included more than 15 Southern California high school marching bands, drill teams and giant hot-air balloons of Dr. Seuss characters.

Gymnast and Olympic gold medalist Peter Vidmar led the two-hour parade as grand marshal. A related two-day festival continues today from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Crown Valley Community Park, with food, arts and crafts, holiday music and amusements for children.