City officials place limits on Independence Day Festival

Crowds like this have been commonplace at past Independence Day Festivals in Menifee. (File photo)

By Doug Spoon, Editor

The City of Menifee has scheduled the annual Independence Day celebration for Saturday, June 26 – as usual, a week before the holiday weekend. But how much of a celebration will there be?

Even though the event will take place almost two weeks after the removal of state requirements regarding masks and social distancing, city officials have indicated it likely will still be much more restricted than years before the COVID-19 pandemic.

Last year, the City Council approved an event that included only an expanded fireworks show that could be witnessed in cars from the parking lot at Mt. San Jacinto College. In keeping with COVID-19 guidelines, the normal festival at Wheatfield Park with food and craft vendors, bands, a kids zone and a small parade on La Piedra Road was cancelled.

Some residents on social media have expressed the hope that with restrictions being lifted, the return of a full festival and parade could be a sort of coming-out party for Menifee – the first large outdoor gathering in well over a year. With a month remaining to make plans, city officials weren’t too encouraging about that in response to a Menifee 24/7 inquiry today, however.

“While it will be slightly different than previous years, we plan to have a drive-in style event at MSJC, but are adding a few additional components such as food vendors partnering with the Lake Menifee Women’s club. As regulations and our venue partners allow, we may be able to add more event components,” wrote City public information officer Dominique Samario in an email.

“The food vendors are slated for MSJC at this point. If we are able to add additional elements, those may be at MSJC or Wheatfield Park, depending on our partner agencies’ policies as the event nears.”

And the possibility of a parade?

“Unfortunately, there will not be a parade this year,” said Samario, who responded to an email sent to Jonathan Nicks, Community Services director. “With the uncertainty surrounding our ability to bring crowds together and the lead time needed from both a staff and community perspective (creating floats and gathering their groups), it was not possible to coordinate a parade this year.”

The email did not acknowledge that according to state officials, there will be no restrictions on crowds gathering outside by June 26. And as those who have attended past festivals know, the parade consists only of decorated vehicles and flat-bed trailers. There are no floats to construct.

It is unclear whether staff changes within the Community Services Department is a factor. In recent weeks, the department has experienced the unexplained departures of two of its key employees. Community services manager Jason Hendrix now has a similar position in Mesa, Arizona, and recreation coordinator Kristina Hernandez transferred to another department. There has been no city announcement about either move.

Menifee 24/7 would like to gauge public opinion regarding what shape the Independence Day celebration should take. We invite you to participate in our reader poll at the link below.

Reader poll: Menifee Independence Day Festival