Lake Elsinore Unity parade brings out the crowds

The Terra Cotta Middle School Marching Mustangs perform along the parade route in downtown Lake Elsinore Saturday to "Celebrate Families" in recognition of those with members fighting cancer. Photo by Steve Fetbrandt/SWRNN

As cool fall temperatures gave way to partly cloudy skies, hundreds of local residents lined old neighborhood streets in Lake Elsinore Saturday morning to watch the 13^th Annual Unity in Community Parade.

Marching bands, cheerleaders, boy scouts, young marines, local dignitaries and more walked in the parade — nearly 95 groups in all and each comprised of dozens of members.

Winding through the historical neighborhoods of Graham Avenue, Main Street and Heald Avenue, the large-scale community event has become a much-anticipated tradition in Lake Elsinore.

Courtney Fregeau, a smiling 16-year-old Lake Elsinore resident who walked with the Lakeside Dance troupe, appeared thrilled to be part of the event.

“It’s so cool how the whole community gets together for this,” she said.

Lake Elsinore resident Mallory Gutierrez, also of Lakeside Dance, seemed equally excited to be a parade participant. The perky bright-eyed 16-year-old said it was her second year in the event.

“I love it. I couldn’t even sleep last night,” Gutierrez said. “I was up until 1 a.m. thinking about it. I couldn’t wait for today.”

The parade, even with its huge turnout, had an old-fashioned, small-town community feel. Fancy floats and exotic themes were replaced by everyday Americana: cub scouts atop a hay wagon, young baton twirlers in 1950s-era costumes and local Women’s Club members in 19^th century period dress.

Members of VFW Post 1508 in Wildomar were among hundreds of participants in Saturday's "Put Unity in the Community Parade," which drew thousands of spectators to downtown Lake Elsinore. Photo by Steve Fetbrandt/SWRNN

Elsinore Elementary School Principal Rita Post wrangled a group of more than 100 fourth- and fifth-graders wielding trumpets, flutes and clarinets. The young musicians, from various Lake Elsinore elementary schools, all participated in the parade and were part of a district-wide effort to get kids exposed to the arts.

“The kids probably don’t have a clue about why they’re here today, they’re just so excited to be in a parade,” Post said.

Kathye Aniol, one of the parade founders, was on hand during the event, helping to sign in parade participants and field questions.

“We started this parade because at the time there wasn’t a big community event in Lake Elsinore,” she said. “It’s grown to this.”

Aniol said the parade, which was free to entrants and bystanders, has always had a family focus, but this year was the first time the event also had a cancer-awareness theme.

“I suffer from cancer, so I wanted to encourage support from within the community for others who have this disease,” she said. “I was a little disappointed that the idea didn’t really fly, but the families still came out.”

Sitting under a blanket in a lawn chair along Graham Avenue with her family and friends, Laura Arauz, a Corona resident, looked on with pride as her 7-year-old son walked in the parade with the pack 542 Cub Scouts.

A youngster from Ballet Folklorico of Lake Elsinore waves to the crowd as his float moves along Graham Avenue in Lake Elsinore. Photo by Steve Fetbrandt/SWRNN

“I’m so proud of him,” Arauz said.

“It’s wonderful to see so many people involved in this,” she continued. “There’s such a feeling of community here.”

Toni McAllister is SWRNN’s lifestyles editor. You can e-mail her at toni.mcallister@yahoo.com.

Tags: Courtney Fregeau, Elsinore Elementary School Principal Rita Post, Kathye Aniol, Lake Elsinore, SWRNN, unity parade

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