It was hot. It was humid. But that didn't stop thousands of residents and visitors from turning out for Mission Viejo's annual 4th of July Street Faire and Fireworks Spectacular, where the city celebrated both Independence Day and the 250th anniversary of the American story.
From noon through evening, Olympiad Rd buzzed with activity as families, friends and neighbors explored dozens of vendor booths, enjoyed live entertainment, and took in the festive atmosphere. Three stages featured a continuous lineup of music throughout the day, with performances spanning classic rock, country, pop, and patriotic favorites that kept crowds dancing and singing along.
Food and beverage vendors did brisk business serving up summertime staples, including burgers, hot dogs, BBQ, cotton candy and fresh lemonade. For those who couldn't take the heat, cooling stations and cold beer and wine helped make the day a rousing success.
Unfortunately, things did not go as planned for the evening's fireworks show.
According to the Mission Viejo Activities Committee, two boys dressed in black repeatedly ran into the fireworks danger zone, forcing the pyrotechnics team to chase them off. As a result of the delay, the big finale could not be launched because changing winds were causing sparks to land in the wrong spot, resulting in a serious fire hazard.
Wrote one disappointed resident on Nextdoor: “I thought with this being the 250 anniversary it would have been extra special, far from it.”
