A Festive Fourth

More than 1,000 people turned out Sunday morning for the 17th annual Sunland-Tujunga Independence Day Parade, lining the curb or viewing the action from strip-mall balconies.

“It’s the thing to do here,” said Tony Lois, 42, of Tujunga, who watched with his girlfriend, Lupe Mora. “Every year it seems it’s gotten prettier. I wouldn’t miss the last Fourth of July of the millennium.”

That summed up the attitude throughout the San Fernando Valley and neighboring areas, as celebrators packed parks and stadiums for picnics, festivities and fireworks shows.

At Cal State Northridge, officials said as many as 10,000 were expected to fill North Campus Stadium for one of the area’s most heavily attended fireworks displays.

“It’s an old-style, family Fourth of July celebration,” Sheldon Arak, 46, of Northridge said Sunday. “It’s a nice way to spend the afternoon, and I don’t have to drive far.”

He noted that the evening’s headline performer was Pat Boone--”But that’s not why we came,” interrupted his wife, Nelda, also 46.

Perhaps the most popular entry in Sunland’s parade was the Los Angeles Police Department’s motorcycle drill team, a precision group of 26 officers who wove and swirled their way down Foothill Boulevard before screeching to a halt one by one in two perfect lines. The smell of rubber hung in the air as parade-watchers waved U.S. flags and applauded.

Children scrambled in the street for candy being thrown by parade members passing in classic cars, a horse carriage and a truck. The event included skateboarders, Harley-Davidson riders and the Blue Shadows Mounted Drill Team, whose horses had glittery purple hooves. One girl balanced herself while standing atop a moving horse.

“It’s just a good opportunity for organizations to display their artistic abilities, and it gives us inspiration,” said Cecilia Ash, 39, of Tujunga, who attended with her husband and their two children.

“I like the excitement, the frivolity, the silliness--people being themselves,” added Katie Nowell, 54, of Sunland.

Cameo Strickland said she came from Los Angeles because she likes small-town parades.

“I like the feeling of hometown people,” said Strickland, 33. “Los Angeles is so large, you have to go to little communities to have this feeling.”

The parade, sponsored by the Rotary Club of Sunland-Tujunga, ended with firetrucks spraying water on adults and children who scrambled into the street in the hot sun.

Across town, the Mr. & Ms. Muscle Beach Venice competition drew a big and enthusiastic crowd as male and female bodybuilders flexed their stuff.

Bare-chested master of ceremonies Bill Howard wore a red, white and blue scarf around his neck as he called on contestants to show off their biceps, triceps and abdominal muscles. Howard, 66, a personal trainer, has hosted the competition on the three summer holidays--Memorial Day, Independence Day and Labor Day--for 36 years.

When the judging was done, lightweight Maria Raia, 40, of Chatsworth--clad in an American-flag swimsuit--captured the title of Ms. Muscle Beach. Hans Hopspaken, 42, of Monrovia, won the overall and most muscular competition and was chosen Mr. Muscle Beach.

In Simi Valley, a record crowd of July 4 revelers filled the courtyard at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library to enjoy apple pie and American anthems performed by musical groups.

“This is great,” said Peggy Reid of Simi Valley. “It’s like a little piece of Iowa in Simi Valley.”

Inside the air-conditioned building, a wool-suited George Washington, as portrayed by Frederick Alexander of Burbank, cooled off and posed for photographs with children.

Library director Mark Hunt estimated more than 7,000 people attended the event.

“I think the whole idea was to provide a place for the community to celebrate the Fourth of July at not a lot of cost,” he said. “It’s a celebration of the freedom we all enjoy.”

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Times staff writers Jeffrey L. Rabin and Tracy Wilson contributed to this story.