July 4 revelers gather in Exeter City Park

From musicians to puppies to Hawaiian shave ice cones, the crowds that spent Independence Day at Exeter’s annual 4th of July celebration in the City Park enjoyed the fruits of the labor of community volunteers, and the chance to see friends and family.

The event kicked off with an early morning pancake breakfast hosted by the Exeter Church of God Youth Group, followed by a 10-K run and 2-mile walk hosted by Exeter Parks and Recreation.

These were followed by the annual horseshoe tournament at 8 a.m. and the beginning of vender sales at 9 a.m. This was followed shortly by a flag salute by Exeter Cub Scout Pack 309 and the national anthem sung by local high school student Christina Molina.

Sandy Blankenship, Executive Director of the Exeter Chamber of Commerce, said that the park event has been going on for around 30 years, though the free firework display put on by the Lions Club each year at dusk has been taking place for at least 60 years.

“We were pleased with the vendor turnout this year,” Blankenship said. “We thought that with the economy we wouldn’t have as many as previous years.”

The audience for the Fourth of July event usually depends on the temperature and on what day the holiday falls,” she said. “I expected the attendance to be lower because it’s a holiday weekend, but it looks like it’s the usual amount of people.”

Suzi Macaluso, a volunteer with the no-kill rescue shelter Central Valley Rescue Railroad, said that the group, which is a part of the larger organization Love of Animals, is a new addition to the celebration.

“It’s actually our first year here, though we always attend the Exeter Fall Festival,” Macaluso said. “We always do well [at the Festival], so we thought we’d try out the Fourth of July.”

The section of pens holding small dogs up for adoption attracted a lot of visitors, especially young children who sat down in the shade to watch the dogs play around with one another.

This year, many of the dogs present were from the newly opened Porterville Animal Shelter.
“I’d say about half of the dogs — all the puppies, actually — we have here are from the new animal shelter in Porterville,” Macaluso said. “Since they’re a new organization, we try and help them out since it’s tough to get volunteers and resources when you’re just starting out.”

Some of the event’s vendors, which come from both local and regional areas, are a regular presence at the celebration. “The guy who runs the Hawaiian shave ice stand — a local favorite — has been coming here from Strathmore for the last 19 years,” Blankenship remarked.

At 11:30 a.m., the day’s main live entertainment — a band that calls itself Loose Change — took center stage with music ranging from oldies to contemporary tunes. The bands, which rotate each year for variety, are selected by the Exeter Chamber of Commerce, which hosts the entire park celebration each year.

“We want to keep it fresh,” Blankenship said. Loose Change has played before at the July 4 celebration, and was invited back because many enjoy the wide cross-section of music they play, she said.

The music inspired young children and couples alike to dance on the small area in front of the covered stage. Half of those listening to the band sat on picnic tables directly in front of the stage, while the rest sought refuge from the heat at the edge of the park beneath the large trees ringing the park.

“My favorite part of the day is watching people having a good time,” Blankenship said. “There isn’t usually a whole lot going on during the day [on July 4], so this lets families have something to do together.”

The event relied on community volunteers to run smoothly. Some Exeter residents spent their time divided between multiple obligations.

Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors member David Nielson represented the Chamber, the Kiwanis Club and his own personal business at the event, shuttling between the three tents as needed. “I’ve had my share of 4th of Julys taken from me by this event,” he joked.

Blankenship pointed to community helpers as the reason the event succeeds each year.

“We have a lot of awesome volunteers,” she said.

Nielson also sees the community contributions as the highlight of the day.

“[Exeter] is just a great little community and everyone is very supportive,” he said. “Everyone put a lot of effort into the event and people really care about it.”

-- Contact Sarah de Crescenzo at 784-5000, Ext. 1045, or sdecrescenzo@portervillerecorder.com.