Annual Parade Brings City Together to "Finish the Fight"

For 51 years, Loma Linda has offered residents a place to celebrate each year during its annual Loma Linda Community Parade and Fair event. This year’s “Together We Can Finish the Fight”-themed celebration drew hundreds of participants and attendees to Loma Linda, dressed in various shades of purple and pink in honor of cancer awareness as they marched from the corner of Barton Road and Anderson Street to Loma Linda Academy. Various organizations took part in the festivities this year, including the Antique Mall, Linda Valley Villa, Loma Linda Academy Children Center, and the Loma Linda Library, plus dozens more. Marching bands from Clement and Cope middle schools provided festive live music, and drill teams from the many Seventh Day Adventist Pathfinder organizations twirled flags during the parade. Classic cars of all colors, makes and models maneuvered down Anderson Street as cancer survivors themselves greeted the throngs of residents gathered along the edge of the sidewalks, waving as they passed by and distributing candy. Immediately following the morning parade, all were welcomed at the Loma Linda Academy parking lot where a wide variety of booths were set up for the fair portion of the event, showcasing foods from Filipino and Mexican cuisines, Italian sodas, Hawaiian shaved ice, and more. Fair-goers got their pick of products and services from the dozens of vendor booths, including feather hair extensions from Mrs. Winchell’s Hair Extensions to face painting from the Loma Linda Elementary School’s art department. Vendor Grace Lafferty showed off her line of homemade all-natural skin care products called Touch of Grace, while Dr. Lu and her dental hygienists and assistants provided informational pamphlets, goodies like toothpaste and prize opportunities through games. Loma Linda Academy also had several booths set up on the grounds, including many game booths like the velcro jump, sponge toss, and the dunk tank which offered the opportunity for students to dunk their teachers and raise money for their class. For the students, the booths were a fundraising opportunity and also allowed them to showcase their creativity through games and booth decorations incorporating this year’s “Together We Can Finish the Fight” theme. “It’s awesome to brainstorm the theme and create a booth that reflects it. Last year the theme was birthdays and it just so happened that it was around my birthday so that was a lot of fun to work with,” stated Andrea Schroer, a former Loma Linda Academy student who has been helping her friend Jasmine Hallock, another former student, with the face painting booth for the last few years. Those patrons who wanted to rest their feet got to relax in the middle of the fair where they enjoyed a variety of talent from groups including the Loma Linda Academy symphonic band, Hawaiian dancing and students singing. There was a little bit of everything this year at the parade and fair, from games and prizes, to savory snacks and sweet treats. Patrons could sign up for volleyball, check out a variety of wares and meet with organizations located throughout the community.