Moorkpark Fireworks Festival Draws in Thousands for Food, Fun

More than 10,000 people gathered at Arroyo Vista Community Park for Moorpark's annual July 3rd Fireworks Extravaganza, the city's single largest event.

The crowds, much of which streamed in on foot along Tierra Rejada Road, flooded onto the park grounds for food, music and a communal place for families to have fun on the eve of America's birthday.

According to the event's coordinator, Stephanie Shaw, putting together the festival, which included dozens of different vendor carts, carnival games, a rock-climbing wall and at least one bounce house, is a lot more work than many realize.

"It just takes a whole team. You need constant communication … Well over 100 people worked to make this happen," she said.

The work paid off as could be seen by the thousands who camped out at the expansive park—many relaxed in lawn chairs, under umbrellas or in tents to escape the heat while children and parents threw frisbees and footballs.

"It's great family entertainment. You get to meet people new and old," said City Councilwoman Roseann Mikos.

Mark Onagaris, a "50-something" volunteer for the Ventura County Sheriff's Department who was working the event, said the festival was always safe—the most trouble anyone had gotten in this year was being warned smoking wasn't allowed.

The friendly atmosphere allowed Onagaris just to enjoy the event, as he has for the last few years.

"The weather's great. The people are great. The fireworks are great," he said. 

Some used the event as a chance to get the word out about local causes - representatives from the Moorpark Foundation for the Arts said that setting up a booth for their group was one of the best ways to let people know about their fundraising efforts to help keep the High Street Arts Center from closing down.

"This is an amazing opportunity to tell our story. There's probably going to be 10 to 15,000 people here," said Hugh Riley, the chief financial officer for the Foundation for the Arts and Moorpark assistant city manager.

But most were there simply to celebrate with other locals on the eve of July 4th and for family fun.

Moorpark City Councilman Mark Van Dam said the festival has grown since he first started coming in 2000. He estimated about 8,000 people showed up that year. He attributed part of that growth to the influx of residents of other cities like Simi Valley and Thousand Oaks to the festival.

"This is the city's premier event. It's just a safe place for people to come and celebrate with friends and family," he said.

Van Dam said that the tradition of holding the festival on July 3rd originally started as a cost cutting strategy - fireworks are half priced the day before the holiday. But now, he says, the timing of the festival gives Moorpark families the chance to celebrate for two days in a row.

With the thousands at Arroyo Vista and countless others in nearby parks, driveways and backyards looking on, the fireworks show began promptly at 9 p.m.

City Councilman David Pollock, who has lived in Moorpark for more than 20 years, said the event was a great way for the city to celebrate together, whether they were at the park or crowding along Los Angeles Avenue to see the show from afar.

"It's really our signature event. It's an opportunity for the whole community to get out together."