Park Hopper brings back CL fun
In the first major Canyon Lake event since the COVID-19 shut the country down 15 months ago, the Canyon Lake POA has the community hopping this weekend. The Canyon Lake Park Hopper, with events from dawn until dusk in five of its parks, has outdoor events that include free concerts, food trucks galore and vendors of a variety of specialties. Other entertainers and events pepper the schedule. (For a full schedule, see Page A19.)
The events are spread out over the weekend, leaving Monday’s Memorial Day holiday open for family and friends to gather. Tonight, Friday, has a single event, Movie Night at the Pool, at the Lodge.
Two full Rock the Boat Concerts will take place at Holiday Harbor where the bands will face the lake and perform to those in the water. Black Rock Candy will perform on Saturday at noon and Southern Reign will take the stage on Sunday at 11:00 a.m.
Southern Reign performs Sunday at Holiday Harbor in the Rock the Boat Concert at 11:00 a.m. Canyon Lake Park Hopper includes concerts and musical performances both days. Photo provided by Southern Reign.
The Lodge will also host live music. Singer and sax player Kenny Rice will provide the music between 11:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Saturday. Canyon Lake vocalist Aprile DeAnne is at the Lodge the same hours on Sunday.
Other entertainment over the weekend includes a ski show by Canyon Lake based ShowCal Skiers for an hour on the Main Lake at 3:00 p.m. on Saturday. A Pool Mini Paddle Boat activity takes place at the Lodge pool Sunday at 10:00 a.m. Music is DJ’d Saturday and Sunday afternoons at Indian Beach as well as movies there both nights at 8:00 p.m.
Sierra Park will host a significant Classic Car Show from 10:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m.
Throughout the weekend, fun and games at most of the parks is constant. The Canyon Lake Family Matters Club is providing face painting and crafts for the kids at Indian Beach at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday. A Reptile Show takes place both days from 11:00 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. at Indian Beach.
Bicycle lessons are being taught at Eastport Park by the Canyon Lake Bible Club both Saturday and Sunday from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Free pickleball lessons are being taught at the park all day both days beginning at 8:00 a.m. Also at Eastport Park will be a Petting Zoo on Sunday from 11:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m.
A roaming stiltwalker on Saturday and a juggler on Sunday entertain throughout the day at Holiday Harbor and Junior Tennis Tournaments are taking place at the Lodge tennis courts starting at 8:00 a.m. both Saturday and Sunday where spectators are encouraged to watch.
There will be food for sale and vendors from all over selling a variety of items and services at all the parks but Eastport Park. Food trucks will be serving up food all day at the other four parks beginning at 10:00 a.m. The Lighthouse Restaurant at the Lodge will have food and drink specials beginning at 11:00 a.m.
The Vendor Fair will take place at each of the four parks both days, with all but the Lodge beginning sales at 10:00 a.m. The Lodge’s Vendor Fair begins at 11:00 a.m. Sierra Park has only Saturday events.
Concerts and live music are a major part of the Park Hopper weekend.
Black Rock Candy is an up and coming band of talented teenagers who will perform at the Saturday Rock the Boat Concert. The band has already performed in legendary venues, wineries, clubs, breweries, charity events and festivals throughout California and Arizona, including the Riverside Festival of Lights, Orange County Fair, Lake Havasu WinterFest, several Temecula wineries and Whisky A Go Go in Hollywood.
The band is made up of Taylor Jennings, 19 (Lead Vocals), Isabella Jennings, 16 (Lead Guitar), Grace Watkins, 16 (Bass), Samantha Yanis, 15 (Keyboard/Rhythm Guitar) and Aaron Ormond, 17 (Drums).
The band originally started as a student band at the Corona Music and Art Center when teachers were looking to create an all-girls band to fill a void of under-represented women in the genre. The well-traveled professional band is now in the recording studio working on an album.
“Being young makes it hard to get gigs because sometimes venues do not take us seriously until they hear us play,” band members told Shoutout LA Magazine. “A blessing because once they hear us, we receive a lot of compliments and tips. All we need is a foot in the door and we will prove ourselves.”
Southern Reign, on the other hand, is a group of veteran muscians who have been passionate for music for decades. The band takes the Holiday Harbor stage on Sunday.
The band members say early exposure to classical, blues, jazz, country, and rock all came together to provide diverse knowledge and style to their songwriting.
“This is music in its purest form,” they said. “No gimmicks, flashy theatrics or auto-tune vocals. Southern Reign is the real deal.”
Members of Southern Reign have shared the stage with The Outlaws, Artimus Pyle (Lynyrd Skynyrd) and the Devon Allman Project. With the release of their first CD, response has been overwhelming.
Trevor Edwards performs lead vocals and plays the guitar. Mell Schaer sings and plays the bass guitar and David O’Conner is on the keyboard.
At the Lodge, Kenny Rice will entertain. He is a dynamic saxophonist, vocalist, entertainer and recording artist based out of Southern California. He was inducted into the U.S. Regional States Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2017 for his 1970’s band, The Fabulous Flippers.
Kenny’s sound is often compared to Kenny G, Boots Randolf and his personal favorite, King Curtis.
Canyon Lake’s Aprile DeAnne takes the mic at the Lodge on Sunday. Aprile has performed on numerous occasions at both the Lodge and the Country Club.
In 2017, she opened for one of her favorite bands, the new wave group Berlin when the group performed at the Lodge. She also opened for the Four Tops at the Rose Bowl.