Enjoy Fourth of July Scripps Ranch style
San Diego has some of the biggest Fourth of July celebrations in the entire country, and Scripps Ranch has its share of grand events showcasing everything that’s good in this great nation. The morning begins with running and cycling events organized by the Scripps Ranch Old Pros athletic club, and continues with a traditional Fourth of July Parade down the normally quiet streets of family neighborhoods, culminating with a family-friendly festival in Hoyt Park.
One of the great things about these events is that organizers have them scheduled so that each will be over and done with at 1 p.m., leaving plenty of time for residents to have special individual family celebrations the rest of the day.
Finally, the Scripps Mesa Fireworks display tops off the evening at 9 p.m. with viewing around Mira Mesa High School.
Residents concerned about street closures on July 4 should view the maps on the links provided below for each event.
Fourth of July Run & Ride
The Scripps Ranch Old Pros host a morning of running and cycling fun early on the Fourth of July each year. The Fourth of July Run & Ride consists of a 10k Run, a 2-Mile Fun Run, a 50-Mile Bike Ride, a 28-Mile Bike Ride and a 12-Mile Bike Ride.
A total of 3,000 participants are expected for the events, which take an incredible amount of coordination on the part of the Old Pros. In fact, the 10k Run and the 50 Mile Bike Ride both start at the same time, 7 a.m., within blocks of one another. The second running event begins at 7:07 a.m. and the last cycling event starts at 8:30 a.m. The running events will start at Red Cedar Drive and Aviary Drive. The cycling events will start at the intersection of Scripps Ranch Boulevard and Hibert Street. All the events end near Hoyt Park.
Fourth of July Run & Ride participants who are 21 years of age and older are allowed free access to the beer garden at Hoyt Park following their events.
Race bibs may be picked up between 3 and 6 p.m. at Hoyt Park.
Visit srop.org.
Fourth of July Parade
The Scripps Ranch Civic Association presents the 47th annual Fourth of July Parade stating at 10 a.m. The great thing about this parade is that it’s highly inclusive, meaning the entry fee is minimal and the organization encourages participation by neighborhood and youth groups (although registration deadline has passed).
There is no doubt that this is as real as it gets if you are looking for an authentic American parade with plenty of patriotism. The fact that the parade route is not too long and runs through the center of a beautiful family neighborhood with happy children lining the route, makes this an All-American parade not to be missed. San Diego’s politicians know this well as there will be no shortage of city, county and state leaders participating, many riding in shiny convertibles.
The theme for this year’s parade is “Hip-hip Hooray! It’s Independence Day!”
Residents are encouraged to set up lawn chairs and blankets along the parade route for optimal viewing. Each year, some place their chairs along the route the day before the event, but San Diego Police ask everyone not to place items on sidewalks before 6 a.m. the day of the parade.
The staging area for the parade is at Red Cedar Drive and Red Cedar Lane. Participants are asked to gather at that location at 9:15 a.m. on the morning of the fourth.
The parade begins near the intersection of Red Cedar Place and Ironwood Road, runs down Ironwood Road, then right on Courtyard Drive and left on Red Rock Drive. It then turns right onto Scripps Ranch Boulevard in front of the Vons Parking lot, and ends at the intersection with Aviary Drive next to Hoyt Park.
The entire community is invited to enjoy a small fair in nearby Hoyt Park at the end of the parade. The event will feature music, face painting and an inflatable slide for children. There will also be a beer garden for adults. The events, hosted by the Scripps Ranch Old Pros, last from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m.
Visit bit.ly/2sdTCYS
Fireworks
Perhaps the closest and most convenient fireworks display for Scripps Ranch residents to top off the day of patriotic festivities is the Scripps Mesa Fireworks. It’s hard to find another fireworks show this closely surrounded by a populated area. Intended to be a collaboration between the Scripps Ranch community and Mira Mesa, the Scripps Mesa Fireworks show will begin at 9 p.m. on July 4 and last about 20 minutes. Music will be synchronized with the fireworks display and broadcast on KyXy 96.5 Radio. The fireworks will be shot from the Mira Mesa High School campus.
Viewers should arrive early to find a place to watch the show, with prime spots in and around nearby streets and some shopping center parking lots. Other spots can be found at Mira Mesa Community Park to the north and Mesa Verde Park to the south. Fortunately, the surroundings are relatively flat, so viewing from several blocks away still provides an excellent experience with plenty of ooohs and aaahs!
Visit scrippsmesafireworks.org.