The July 4th Big Bear Lake Fly-over" is
the massive Boeing C-17 Globemaster III, America's most versatile airlift
aircraft. This aircraft is operated by the 452nd Air Mobility Wing at
historic March Field, in Riverside California. It is being flown by an
Air Force Reserve aircrew from the 729th Airlift Squadron, also based at March
Field."
Spectacular Fireworks Show
By E T Russell
Another Rotary Club of Big Bear Lake BBQ & Fireworks
Show will be Monday JULY 4th afternoon, continuing into the
evening. An approximate 140,000 Valley visitors are expected to join Big Bear
Valley residents at the Marina Resort, located on Big Bear Boulevard, west of
Pine Knot Avenue, in Big Bear Lake. The Independence Day Celebration has been a
traditional event for more than thirty years.
Families, Friends, Neighbors take-in the magic of the outdoor adventure, on the banks of the
beautiful Big Bear Lake. It’s a pleasure to begin Monday afternoon with the Rotary
Barbeque that begins serving at 4:30 P.M.
Rotary’s
Barbeque Tickets prices begin at $27 for View Only Tickets,
to $100 for special VIP tickets with a served meal, dessert, drink tickets and
a private viewing area. All other
tickets also include meals from Barnstorm
Restaurant or Nottingham’s.
Visit the Rotary Club’s Hydration Station that
offers Beer, Wine, Soft Drinks and Water. Both the BBQ and Hydration Station
earn the Rotary Club of Big Bear Lake approximately $20,000 which will
help fund the Club’s various charities of the Big Bear Valley. The BBQ
is one of the Club’s major fundraisers and is always an enjoyable event for
those participating.
Each year, hundreds of boats gather on the lake to experience
the dazzling fireworks in the sky, as they explode and fall harmlessly into the
water. Thousands more spectators gather along the shore all around the lake and
in homes overlooking the lake to enjoy one of the most spectacular fireworks
displays anywhere.
Selective patriotic and classic music from KBHR
93.3 FM is synchronized with the entire Fireworks Show. The invisible
curtain rises when traditional and humorous Big
Bear Lake song, written and sung by Mel Blanc of Looney Tunes, the audience
chimes in and sings along, the que that The
Show is about to begin.
Starting off the 4th of July Evening Show with a
BANG! Look to the sky! Listen to the roar! We are honored and privileged on
this 4th of July to witness the Fly-over Big Bear Lake, by Air Force Reserve
Aircrew from the 729th Airlift Squadron, based at March Field."
We of the City Big Bear Lake feel privileged that we get to
experience the Fly-over, one of fourteen performances the Aircraft Crew are
performing early evening. Those Fly-overs are Huntington Beach Pier, San Pedro
(Cabrillo Beach), Westlake Village, Woodland Hills Simi Valley Porter Ranch
Rose Bowl, La Verne, Rancho Cucamonga, Fontana, Redlands, La Habra,
It’s
All Hands on Deck! The In-charge person is Rotarian Andy Suhay,
who really inherited the Fireworks job from his father Skip Suhay, who passed
away in Spring 2014. Skip's Rotary motto
Service Above Self, was exemplified
by his passion in annually assuring that the July 4th fireworks show
was always something the entire Big Bear Valley could proudly brag. Andy, along with a team of dedicated Rotary
volunteers believe their commitment is Service
Above Self, also.
Grant it, the Big Bear Lake 4th of JULY Fireworks
production is at least one of three events in Southern-California, and Andy
believes it is #1! Due to the tremendous volunteer efforts of the local
Rotarians who donate hundreds of hours to build the necessary to create the an even better-than-ever show.
The Fireworks Show has always been a most exciting, but expensive event to produce. Through the combined efforts of the City of Big Bear Lake, the Rotary Club of Big Bear Lake and the Big Bear Chamber of Commerce, funds are raised through donations to offset the approximate $65,000 costs for this unique fireworks display.
Some of the community programs the Rotary Club of Big Bear Lake contributes and supports are: Scholarships to high school graduates, Inter-Act for children, the Santa, Children’s Dental, Bear Valley Community Hospital, Seniors Holiday Dinner and others.
By agreement, any costs not covered by donations are paid by
the City
of Big Bear Lake. The actual
cost to the City will be quite small again this year because of the generosity
of Local Businesses & Individuals, many of which greatly
benefit from the large number of Valley Visitors who travel to the mountain
communities, especially to see this outstanding, one-of-kind Concert
of Lights!
The Grand Finale of the 4th of JULY Celebration Weekend
has always been a surprise, that screams of elation are sounded from thousands
of spectators surrounding Big Bear Lake.
Tickets and more details are available at: Marina Resort
(909-866-5000), Big Bear Visitors Center (800-424-4232), Big Bear Visitors
Bureau (www. Big Bear.com)
The 2016 Rotary Club of Big Bear Lake BBQ &
Fireworks Show wants everyone to enjoy a SAFE and Sane July 4th!
P.S. For your protection, there will be Secured Viewing Area +
Security Check Upon Entry