Plans are well underway for the community’s annual Fourth of July event designed to benefit the Fallbrook Beautification Alliance. The family-oriented festivities, which begin at 4 p.m. that Wednesday and culminate with a fireworks show, will once again take place on the grounds of the Grand Tradition at 1602 South Mission Road.

This event is the sole annual fundraiser for the effort in town to remove graffiti, clean statues and murals, plant and maintain flowers and plants in the downtown area and the South Mission Road medians, and create new enhancements, such as the military memorial on East Mission Road.

The purchase of an entry ticket (in advance $38/adults, $12/children age 6 to 12, free under age 5) includes a number of tickets to use on food items such as a complete chicken dinner, barbecue beef sandwich, hot dog or hamburger, pie, ice cream, beer, wine, soft drinks or other traditional 4th of July treats.

"Because large donations from the county and other individual contributors are no longer being provided, and the costs of holding such an event including fireworks, continue to increase, the price of the tickets have gone up," said organizers. "It takes months of work by close to 100 volunteers, but is a wonderful event for the community in addition to raising money for all the great work the organization does.    

Children and families can engage in a variety of games and contests (some may require tickets, additional tickets will be offered for sale) and try their luck in the traditional "Quack Up Cup" rubber duck race where bright yellow plastic replicas can be "adopted" (for a small donation) and enter the competition which involves them skimming across the surface of the lake powered by blasts of air. Prizes are awarded for first, second, and third place.

The Rubber Raft Regatta is expected to be one of the highlights of the event again this year. Teams of four compete for the title of being the fastest rubber raft to row across the lake. A cash prize is awarded to the winning team.

Live music for the event will be provided by the MarDels.

"The MarDels is San Diego’s most well-known and loved nostalgia band," said organizers. "Since 1982 this popular seven-piece group has been performing dynamic renditions of the best music from the 50s to the 70s. The band has now expanded its repertoire to include select hits from the 80s and 90s, as well as swing standards from the 40s." 

A silent auction will feature an array of enticing choices and offer an additional way that citizens can help provide for the beautification of Fallbrook.

Attendees at the event can sit on the lush, manicured lawn or purchase reserved tables. The various options can be viewed at www.fallbrookbeautification.org.

Tickets go on sale June 1 for the event on the website, at the Fallbrook Chamber of Commerce, Major Market, A Few of Our Favorite Things, and Dominick’s Deli. If purchased the day of the event (at the door), tickets will be $43/adults. There is no entry to the event after 8 p.m.

Organizers encourage local residents that prefer to celebrate at home but enjoy the fireworks show to make a donation to: Fallbrook Beautification Alliance, P.O. Box 434, Fallbrook, Calif. 92088. Donations can also be made on the website.