Who’s ready for a parade?

Canyon Lake’s Fiesta Day has been the opening event for the summer for more than 40 years. This beloved tradition takes place on the Saturday before Memorial Day. It’s considered the granddaddy of all Canyon Lake events, drawing more than 5,000 people annually.

This year’s theme, “Cheers to 50 Years,” celebrates the Canyon Lake Property Owners Association’s 50th anniversary.

Fiesta Day begins with families and friends lining the parade route as dignitaries, clubs, organizations and businesses parade past on everything from convertibles and bicycles to golf carts and towed boats and trailers. Parade participants throwing candy to spectators is a Fiesta Day tradition, so kids will want to bring a bag for collecting the candy as it’s thrown from passing vehicles.

After the parade, head to the lodge grounds, where there will be activities and entertainment that include vendors, food court, face painters and balloon artists, reptile zoo, live music, performances by JDI dancers, vintage VW bus photo booth and more.

The Show Cal Skiers, California’s first and only show ski club, will perform a ski show on the main lake.

The Trip, a high energy cover rock band, will perform hits of the 60s, 70s and 80s.

Canyon Lake’s Elinor Martin will have a display on the history of Canyon Lake. Elinor’s family, the Evans family, leased the concession from the Temescal Water Company from 1937 to 1968 when the lake and land were turned into a private community.

New this year, a 250 feet zip line at Sunset Beach.

The lodge will be offering food and drink specials and have a bar set up outside.

The Fiesta Day Committee invites residents, clubs, organizations, businesses and performance groups to participate in the parade. The “Best Float” entry will receive $100. Only pre-registered parade entries will be permitted in the parade. All applications and waivers must be turned in by May 15 in order to participate.

The Fiesta Day Committee would like to remind residents that there is a new parade route this year due to safety regulations mandated by CALFIRE. The new route will begin at Mayflower Drive and Canyon Lake Drive North at approximately 9 a.m. The parade will make its way down Canyon Lake Drive North and turn right onto Vacation Drive. The parade announcements will take place at this intersection. From Vacation Drive, the parade will make its way to its end point, Lighthouse Drive.

Since there will be no parking on Canyon Club Drive and Lighthouse Drive, there will be complimentary shuttle service going up and down on Canyon Club Drive and Lighthouse Drive from 5 a.m. to 4 p.m. Designated handicap parking spots will be available at the Holiday Harbor parking lot along with a wheelchair accessible shuttle bus.

Residents will want to plan ahead for street closures on the morning of the parade, especially if they are expecting guests. Canyon Lake Drive North from Village Way Drive to Clearwater Drive and Canyon Club Drive and Lighthouse Drive will close for the parade at 8:30 a.m. There will be no exceptions after street closure, police and Community Patrol will stop all traffic.

For more information about Fiesta Day, visit Canyon Lake’s Fiesta Day website at canyonlakefiestaday.org.