Gettingajumponthefun
Hours before a fireworks show, Lake Minden was already exploding with activity: People barbecuing, drinking and laughing, and children swimming and playing in bounce houses.
South Sutter County got a jump on Independence Day and fireworks with its annual 3rd of July Community Celebration.
Each year, the Pleasant Grove and East Nicolaus fire departments, through the Pleasant Grove Fire Protection Association, organize a free community event at Lake Minden in Nicolaus.
“All our volunteers help put it on and it gives the local community something to do without having to
travel too far,” said engineer Kelly Trudell with the East Nicolaus Fire Department. “For us at the fire department, it’s huge and lets us keep putting on a free event that’s safe for fireworks, because we have a lot of dry grass here.”
Trudell said Sysco donates the food and the department cooks and sells it at the event to help finance the fireworks show for the next year.
“It costs about $5,500 for the fireworks and the show goes for about 1520 minutes,” Trudell said.
She said live music and a beer garden are big draws for the adults, with a bounce house and swimming in the lake (with life jackets) offering the fun for the children.
Wheatland residents Pip Kenney and Amber Palma brought their children and were setting up a picnic area ahead of more family members’ arrival.
“It’s a safe place to watch fireworks, and you don’t have to worry about anyone getting hurt,” Palma said. “We’ve got people coming from Plumas Lake, Roseville and Los Angeles – almost 20.”
Lincoln resident Elijah Rich wore an apron and was grilling some hamburgers for family and friends at their lakeside campsite.
“We got the three red, white and blue tents all set up – we didn’t plan it that way, but it works,” he said.
Tara Shively of Plumas Lake was there with her family and several friends.
“It’s awesome that you don’t have to pay and there’s so many things for the kids to do.”