The good times roll on the 4th of July in Canyon Lake

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Photos provided by Mike Clary

As it always does, the 4th of July in Canyon Lake began and ended with a show of community pride and family fun. “Family,” in the broadest sense, includes all the clusters of family members and/or friends who gathered at community parks, backyard barbecues and boat rides on the lake. It includes the couple hundred residents who participated in the Waller Bike Ride first thing Saturday morning to benefit the Baine family, and the several thousands of Canyon Lakers and their guests who gathered to watch the fireworks Saturday evening.

Many remembered the meaning of the day, with Old Glory adorning everything from bikinis to biminis, and proudly flying from boats, balconies, golf carts and even one hydrofoil.

Photo by Donna kupke

With daytime temperatures in the 90s, the holiday was sunny but not oppressively hot. Waterfront beaches were crowded and guests enjoyed water play, even on the East Bay, where flyers a day earlier warned residents not to swim in stagnant coves due to a toxic algae bloom. (The main channel of the East Bay was excluded from that warning.)

There were no reports of guests having difficulty getting through the gates, thanks to a system whereby extra gate guards admitted guests with preprinted passes through decal lanes. There were no reports of major disturbances, either from the police or on the several Facebook pages that track such activities; though a couple of minor fights were mentioned, as were illegal fireworks in some neighborhoods.

Photo by Donna kupke

Mayor Jordan Ehrenkranz says it was “the safest and sanest” 4th of July he can recall in all the years he’s lived here.

Canyon Lake Police Lt. Earl Quinata reports there were seven arrests on the 4th of July: six for public intoxication and one for driving under the influence (DUI). One non-injury traffic collision also was reported.

According to City Councilwoman Dawn Haggerty, there was one emergency that required fire response, a golf cart fire. She says Station 94 responded “very quickly.”

Photo by Donna kupke

According to Interim Fire Chief Mike Wilson, the station’s response took place under Canyon Lake’s “State of Emergency” during which Cal Fire/Riverside County Fire has been advised by the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) and Riverside County to “protect life, safety and property within Riverside County, regardless of the state of affairs.”

Saturday ended on a high note with another very successful fireworks show put on by Pyro Spectaculars and paid for by the Canyon Lake Property Owners Association. Pictures of the show taken by Mike Clary can be seen in this week’s B-section. A video of the day and the fireworks show, created by Drone Traveller Eric Kerker, can be viewed on The Friday Flyer’s Facebook page or on Eric’s Vimeo page (vimeo.com/user28406108).