RB’s Fourth of July to conclude with smaller bang

Rancho Bernardo’s Independence Day festivities will conclude with a fireworks show, but it will be an abridged version from previous years, organizers said.

Due to a financial shortfall, the Spirit of the Fourth Committee has decided to spend $15,000 on the fireworks instead of $22,000, the price of last year’s show, said President Dave Brooks. This means it will be 18 to 20 minutes in length — about five to seven minutes shorter than before — have fewer fireworks shells and not be coordinated with music aired by a local radio station.

Several communities — including Rancho Bernardo in previous years — have their fireworks blast off to coordinated music played on KYXY.

“We’ll continue to fundraise and hope to get it back up (to previous standards) next year,” Brooks said on Tuesday.

Without these cuts, Rancho Bernardo risked not having any Fourth of July fireworks. Most other events are going forward, even though the committee is still $6,000 short of its needed $47,000 to put on this year’s festivities, he said.

“We’ll be selling T-shirts and hats and raffling off gift baskets at the community fair,” Brooks said about plans to make up the shortfall to cover this year’s bills.

The festivities will start off early in the day with an admission-free community fair in Webb Park that will go all morning and into the early afternoon. Activities will include a patriotic pet costume contest, classic car show, military salute, rubber ducky race in Webb Lake and booths with games and other attractions.

At 3:30 p.m. the 47th annual Spirit of the Fourth Parade — complete with marching bands, dignitaries in convertibles and kids on decorated bicycles — will roll through downtown Rancho Bernardo for viewing by those along Bernardo Center Drive, Rancho Bernardo Road and Acena Drive.

Those of all ages who would like to enter the free Wheels on Parade contest can meet near the Round Table Pizza at 3 p.m. on July 4. They can enter with their decorated bicycles, tricycles, baby buggies, skateboards, strollers, wagons, wheelchairs, scooters and other wheeled devices. Helmets are required. For questions, call Stephanie Wiesenfarth at 858-692-0799.

Gates will open at 6 p.m. to enter the fireworks viewing area at Bernardo Heights Middle School, 12990 Paseo Lucido. The suggested donation is $10 per person or $20 per family. Credit cards will be accepted, Brooks said.

There will be musical entertainment provided by The US Band, a group of mostly Rancho Bernardo and Poway musicians, before the fireworks are launched at 9 p.m.

Brooks said youth and adult volunteers are still needed for one or two-hour shifts throughout the day and evening. Details are available at SpiritoftheFourth.org/volunteer.html.