The spirit of community and country filled the air in Laguna Woods as decorated golf carts staged near Clubhouse 1 for the Village’s annual Fourth of July parade. They rolled off at 11 a.m. on a designated route through the Village.
The festive lineup was mirrored at Clubhouse 5, where a second group of carts also set off at 11 a.m. on an alternate parade route.
In total, 113 golf carts rolled through Village streets this year.
Both groups ended their run at Clubhouse 2, where revelers gathered for a party with music by the Village favorite band Stone Soul and hamburgers, hot dogs and ice cream.
Golf cart owners presented individual as well as club efforts to celebrate Independence Day in style. American flags and a red, white and blue color scheme gave carts a similarity among the many decorating efforts.
Larry and Carol Sharp were participating in the parade for the seventh year and made room in their golf cart for two grandchildren and their dog, Daisy, sporting a flag collar. The pair were giving out flags from their stars-and-stripes bedecked cart.
“We love seeing everybody enjoying themselves,” Carol Sharp said. “There’s a sense of community and fun.”
New residents Rhonda Guilin and Jennifer Brown were joined by nonresident friend Cindy Conner for their first-time parade effort, their cart topped by an inflatable American eagle, pinwheels and balloons.
“We’re celebrating patriotism and unity, not division,” Guilin said.
Pinwheels and balloons along with billowing bubbles bestowed the air with movement and magic.
Fran Calahan and Charles Graham were parading for the second time, but the first with their own cart. They usually decorate their motor home for the holiday so they got into the same spirit with their new golf cart, Calahan said.
Wearing a red, white and blue top hat, she said, “We love the neighborhood feel and sense of spirit.”
“It’s so patriotic and positive,” said Pam Meislahn, participating for the third year. “This year we added lights” to the golf cart, she said, demonstrating how they twinkled on and off.
Dressed in flag tights under holiday-themed clothing and sporting a wig of colorful streamers, Meislahn planned to ride with Suzanne Hinton while their husbands followed on decorated e-bikes.
“I love to see so many people waving,” she said.
Asked what she liked about participating in the parade, Bonnie Mika countered with, “What don’t you like?” She cited the “wonderful spirit” of the crowd as the main reason for joining in for the third time.
Bubbles emanated from the top of the cart she shared with John Taylor and canine companion Pepper in flag attire. An inflatable American eagle sat on the cart’s rear, its airy insides fed by a small portable generator. Helium balloons adorned the roof.
Other carts were topped by whales, unicorns and even beach chairs.
Second-year participants Linda and Barry Ewing said that in addition to being part of the lineup, they enjoyed looking at all the fancy golf carts. “It’s all about the parade,” said Linda Ewing.
Several Village clubs fronted golf carts as well, including the Clown Club with a couple of vehicles. One sported a large clown doll in front, another a barrel of stuffed monkeys on the back.
“That’s because we love to monkey around,” one of the colorfully attired clowns said with a chuckle.
The Aquadettes’ cart featured patriotic music, including songs the synchronized swimmers have featured in their water shows.
They had a cart in the parade years ago but have now reinstituted the tradition, according to club President Cindy Toer, riding with Catherine Titus, Denise Medina and Kathryn Robbins.
“Next year we will have a mermaid,” Toer said.
Among the more distinctive decorating themes was the Chinese American Club’s cart, adorned with celebratory red paper lanterns and a paper dragon for the current Year of the Dragon.
“We are celebrating the Fourth in a Chinese way,” said Shery Shaw, riding with Ted Young, Lillian Wang and Qing Guang Xin.
Group members were dressed in costumes from the Qing Dynasty dating back 300 years in their history but worn for this year’s holiday.
“We feel so proud to be American today,” Shaw said.
Her words seemed to reflect the feeling of many participants as they set off on the parade route, waving flags and tossing candy to a few lucky children camped out at the start of the route. They waved back with equal enthusiasm.
