Looking for a fun Fourth of July? Try Brea’s 42nd annual Country Fair at City Hall Park.
The Country Fair is a long-time tradition, and for area newcomers a new, great way to celebrate our country’s Independence Day the Brea way.
The fair’s festivities go from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and include the Brea Museum & Historical Society’s classic car show on Walnut Street, in front of the Brea Plunge.
Linda Shay, the museum’s curator, said there will be free museum admission on July 4. Tour its great exhibits tracing Brea back to when it was known as Randolph. Bet you didn’t know that. The museum is on the south end of the park at Brea Boulevard and Elm Street.
While the fair officially opens at 9 a.m., the Brea Kiwanis will be serving their delicious pancakes from 7 to 10 a.m. But at 9 a.m. the festivities begin with live musical entertainment, games, pony rides, food booths and the annual craft fair will be even bigger this year.
The Brea Lions will hoop it up with their annual hula-hoop contest. If hula hooping isn’t your thing, how about a pie-eating contest, also led by the Brea Lions? Be sure to bring your pooch dressed patriotically for the Beautiful Bow-Wow contest at 10:15 a.m. And you can’t miss the kiddie parade at 10:45 a.m. with decorated wagons, strollers and probably a kid or two dressed like Honest Abe or Betsy Ross.
Mayor Cecilia Hupp and Councilman Marty Simonoff will judge the Beautiful Baby Contest, conducted by the Brea Republican Women’s Club.
“The Fourth of July fair is one of my favorite city events,” said Hupp. “And, I love judging the baby contest, though it is hard to pick, as we have so many beautiful babies in Brea!”
As you can probably tell, I love Brea’s Country Fair. It’s hokey, definitely entertaining and a really fun celebration for families and friends.
Speaking of celebrations, remember that fireworks are illegal in Brea.
Brea police Lt. Chris Haddad said the department is forming a task force with the Fire Department and Brea Fire Prevention regarding illegal fireworks. Officers will be patrolling and responding to fireworks calls and complaints, especially in our northern urban-wildlife areas.
“The Fire Department will be heavily up-staffed,” said Haddad, “and making hourly fire watch patrols … and looking for people setting off fireworks.”
He added that Brea Fire Prevention will also be patrolling and taking fireworks seized by the officers and fire fighters to a safe storage location.
Instead of breaking the law, taking a chance of starting a fire or getting injured by one of those “safe and sane” fireworks, take the family to one of the nearby professional fireworks shows.
And, no fireworks, but it was definitely a super show at Brea Downtown’s annual Father’s Day Car Show. Dwight Manley, a major downtown property owner and Brea resident, said there were 285 cars displayed – the most ever.
He added that about 12,000 spectators attended, saying, “This was the largest show in 29 years, for cars, vendors and people.”
TV news crews from Channels 2 and 5 were also broadcasting from the car show. Very impressive.
Terri Daxon is a freelance writer and the owner of Daxon Marketing Communications. She gives her perspective on Brea issues twice a month. Contact her at [email protected].