Getting together to celebrate the fourth
Mike Couchois of the Couchois Brothers band leads a children’s drum brigade at last year’s Fourth of July picnic and fireworks show at Seaside Lagoon.
Legendary restaurateur Pete Moffet has organized the Manhattan Beach Winter Holiday Fireworks Show for 22 years. This will be the fourth year he has operated the July 4th extravaganza at Seaside Lagoon.
Pete fought hard to open the lagoon for swimming on the Fourth, and after two years of teasing people who paid to enter the Lagoon only to be greeted by Keep Out signs posted near the water, he got permission for swimming last year. The kids loved it.
July 4th, 2009 was the kind of day you see in Chamber of Commerce photographs: Blue skies, sunshine and just enough breeze to keep everyone from breaking a sweat. Throughout the day, kids took part in fun water-borne activities such as paddle board races. The little ones just splashed around. A few adults even went in the water.
A year later in April 2010, the city council voted to close Seaside Lagoon for swimming. The decision cast a shadow on what had become a nearly perfect July 4th celebration. The Keep Out signs would have to be dusted off and pounded back into the sand down by the water.
The city of Redondo Beach had allocated $11,000 and change to support the event. Most of that contribution came in the form of internal services such as maintenance and police personnel.
Around the time of the city council vote, Pete asked the city for a little more help in the form of a $10,000 contribution to assist with renting the fireworks barge. In the current economic climate, you want to ask a municipal government for non-budgeted money about as much as you want to ask permission to place an off-shore oil rig a few hundred yards off the beach.
The city came through with the extra ten grand, possibly because Pete hasn’t asked for a lot from them up until now. Before Moffett offered to help the city with its fireworks show, responsibility and the expense of organizing the event had been passed around between the city, Chamber of Commerce and the Pier Merchants Association. No one seemed to really want it.
Then along came Pete Moffett. He had one of those plans that’s simple and brilliant at the same time. If the city allowed him to put on an event at the Lagoon and charge admission, he’d pay for and operate the fireworks, a true win-win.
“Thanks to about 2,500 family sponsors at the Seaside Lagoon, another 200,000 get to enjoy the fireworks show,” Moffett said.
It’s not quite that simple, but almost. “There are three real sources of revenue. The city stepped up with the extraordinary cost of the barge. Then there are the harbor businesses like the King Harbor Association, Decron, Redondo Beach Marina, AES Redondo and the Chamber — those organizations that have a real interest in the city and the harbor area. Then the third is the families who pay to enjoy all the amenities we’ve created that day in the Lagoon,” he said.
Amenities and activities abound. Beach Sports will return with paddle boards and other water activities. PCH Sk8 Camps will hold free skate clinics to teach safe skateboarding. AdventurePlex will return with an inflatable obstacle course and Northrop Grumman will sponsor Mad Science once again.
Redondo’s Seaside lagoon is home to one of LA’s most popular fireworks shows.
That’s just a partial list of things kids will enjoy. Friends of the Fireworks hasn’t forgotten grownups. The Coast Guard will drop a rescue swimmer from a jet powered helicopter right into King Harbor, a show in itself. The main stage will feature music from popular, local bands throughout the day and evening. You’re also welcome to enjoy cuisine from a variety of local restaurants and adult beverages.
The reason why we almost had a dry Lagoon this summer has been widely reported in ER and elsewhere. One of the main reasons why we’ll all get to swim there this year is because the staff of the Regional Water Quality Control Board (RWQCB) recognized how important Seaside Lagoon is to this community.
In an effort to show our appreciation for what they’ve done, Pete Moffett has invited the board, staff and their families to come to the Lagoon as his guests and see what the South Bay and Seaside Lagoon are all about. So if you meet someone who says he or she is from the RWQCB, take a minute to shake hands and say thank you. Seaside Lagoon would be a much drier place without their help.
You can get full details on the July 4th celebration at www.redondofireworks.com.
Comment on this or any other King Harbor topic at www.kingharborboater.com click on the “blog” link.