It began with an homage to public transportation.
On July 4, 1904, the Pacific Electric Railway Company made its first Red Car run from Los Angeles to Huntington Beach, a community named the previous year after the company’s owner, Henry E. Huntington.
To celebrate, the unincorporated, up-and-coming little town held a festival that attracted more than 10,000 people who ate barbecued food and competed in horse races, followed by a fireworks show.
One hundred and four years later, this weekend’s events — including fitness races, a pancake breakfast, a parade and fireworks — will attract half a million locals and tourists.
FITNESS EXPO
More than 3,000 runners rise early each year to participate in the Surf City 5K Run and Fitness Expo at Worthy Park, starting at 6 a.m.
The Residents Division race, strictly for local residents, begins at 7 a.m., followed by the open 5K at 8 a.m. and the 5K Stroller Run at 8:30 a.m. Awards will be given to the top finishers.
In the untimed 9 a.m. Kids Run, all finishers receive a goodie bag, T-shirt and medal. Kids 6 and younger run a half-mile; kids 7 to 12 run one mile. The Fitness Expo includes music by the Breakaways, food, games and health information; it’s open from 6 a.m. to noon.
All races will start and finish at Huntington Beach High School, 17th and Main streets.
The walk-up fee for the 5K is $30; the Kids Run is $17.
Pre-registration and packet pick-ups will be at Farmers & Merchants Bank, 7125 Yorktown Ave., from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. July 3.
Event day registration begins at 6 a.m. at the corner of 17th and Main streets.
The run benefits the Huntington Beach Jr. Lifeguard program.
For more information, visit surfcityrun.com.
PANCAKE BREAKFAST
Many runners gain back the calories they burned at another tradition, the Huntington Beach Kiwanis Pancake Breakfast in Lake Park, from 6:30 to 10 a.m.; tickets are $5.
While at Lake Park, take advantage of the return of bleacher seating to view the parade; tickets are $20 the day of the parade, and seats are limited to the first 500 people to register.
PARADE
The 104th annual Huntington Beach Fourth of July Parade, the largest west of the Mississippi, will begin at 10 a.m., winding throughout downtown and ending a little after noon. Pacific Coast Highway will close at 5 a.m.
Visitors can stake out parade-side seating beginning at 7 a.m. today.
