Mission Viejo officials are moving forward with plans for a community parade to celebrate the nation’s 250th birthday. 

The parade is slated to take place the morning of July 11 starting at 9 a.m. along Marguerite Parkway and ending at the BBQ festival at Oso Viejo Park. 

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It comes as city officials throughout Orange County have been grappling with illegal fireworks, with Stanton recently introducing fines of up to $10,000 for violating the city’s firework ordinance. 

[Read: Stanton Looks to Crack Down on Illegal Fireworks Ahead of 4th of July]

Officials in nearby Irvine recently cancelled their Fourth of July celebration due to time constraints with finding shuttles, staff, vendors and adequate planning. The cancellation also comes after their 2025 celebration at the Great Park that brought 40,000 to the city, resulting in traffic jams and delayed events. 

[Read: Irvine Leaders Nix Fourth of July Celebration Ahead of USA’s 250th Birthday]

Mission Viejo’s parade would begin south of Estanciero Drive near St. Killian Church and travel north on Marguerite Parkway before turning east on La Paz Road. The route would end at Oso Viejo Park, where the city’s BBQ festival is scheduled for the same weekend.

The city council approved $50,000 during the Feb. 10 mid-year budget review for the event. Parade expenses could be covered by that funding if needed. 

City staff will coordinate with the city’s traffic engineer and the Orange County Sheriff’s Department to develop a traffic control plan, similar to the one used for the city’s Walk Against Drugs event. 

On the morning of the event, southbound Marguerite Parkway would be temporarily closed from south of St. Killian’s lower parking lot entrance to La Paz Road. Westbound La Paz Road from Marguerite Parkway to Veterans Way would also be closed. Officials estimate the road closures would last from about 6 a.m. to 11 a.m. 

The idea was introduced during the Feb. 10 city council meeting, and council members voted unanimously to direct staff to plan and coordinate the event on Feb. 24. 

Councilmember Trish Kelley said that years ago she attempted to bring back Mission Viejo’s St. Patrick’s Day parade but she was not successful. 

“I’m thrilled that we have an opportunity to have a parade,” Kelley said. 

Mission Viejo resident Kaleb Troncall emphasized that this parade is not just another event. 

“I’m a patriotic young man. I am very proud to be an American, ” Troncall said. “This isn’t just another event. It’s 250 years of the greatest experiment in self government the world has ever seen. We shouldn’t let a milestone like this pass quietly.”

Mission Viejo resident Carlos Pianelli explained what happened 250 years ago on July 4. 

“As a historian, I’ll give you an idea of what it was like on July 4,” Pianelli said. “The delegates were jumping up and down for joy, they knew that if they signed this they now have a noose around their neck if they get caught by the British government.” 

Pianelli said that it is important to recreate what happened 250 years ago. 

“The cannons went off, every church bell in Philadelphia went off, we can almost recreate that and have actors and people dressed up,” Pianelli said. “We could have city council members dressed up as delegates. We can honor the fire department and police department, and have floats and bands.” 

Troncall said that he has a lot of hope in Mission Viejo. 

“I believe in celebrating our country and teaching my generation and the next generation where the freedoms they have come from,” Troncall said. “I think Mission Viejo is exactly the kind of community that should show up proud and do this right.”