Fish Fry Organizers Hope for Bigger Crowds Today

Overcast skies and cancellation of the annual parade put a damper on the Lions Club Fish Fry, which drew hundreds of people but far fewer than organizers had hoped.

“Usually, there are two or three times as many people as this,” said Bob Dugan, president of the Costa Mesa-Newport Harbor Lions Club, as he surveyed the crowd.

As a result, fewer dollars are likely to be available for donation to community groups this year. The Fish Fry, celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, has historically been one of the largest fund-raisers in Orange County, providing critical financial support to youth groups and a number of other local charities.

Since 1946, the Lions have raised more than $1.8 million for the Costa Mesa Little League, the Boys and Girls Club, the UC Irvine Organ and Tissue Bank and other groups, said Les Miller, a 53-year member of the club and unofficial historian of the event. The fish fry is the club’s big fund-raiser.

Betty Jean Beecher, founder of the Costa Mesa Historical Society, said she anticipated a small crowd when she heard last month that the parade, which in the past featured marching bands, antique cars and equestrian units, had been canceled.

“I am very upset. They give thousands of dollars every year to organizations in the city, including the historical society,” Beecher said. “They have always been able to give when we needed it the worst.”

In the past, the city of Costa Mesa has provided traffic control and other police protection for the parade and fish fry but, because of budget constraints, was unable to do so this year. The cost of hiring officers for the event would have been prohibitively high, Lions officials said.

Miller said the Lions had hoped to serve 8,000 dinners and raise $80,000. The club will keep its fingers crossed, he said, for a bigger turnout today.

Those who did attend appeared to have healthy appetites. Long lines formed for the fish fry’s highly touted $5 dinners of cod fried in a secret batter, cole slaw, french fries and bread.

Most of the carnival rides were only partially occupied, and even the busiest game booths were overstaffed.

Shorter lines for the games and rides were a plus for most of the participants. Jocelyn St. Clair, 13, of Costa Mesa speculated that poor weather had something to do with the light turnout, and that suited her just fine.

“There is no waiting,” she said.

Dugan said he expects a bigger turnout today, when some of the fish fry’s most popular events are scheduled.

The Miss Costa Mesa Pageant will be at 2 p.m., followed by the annual baby beauty contest.

And the winner of the grand prize, a 1995 Pontiac Firebird, will be announced at 8 p.m.

The Lions hope to have the money to bring back the parade next year.