The Sun
Sunnyvale's Newspaper

Photograph by Christian del Rosario

Kids and adults alike lined up for games and American fare at Sunnyvale's Fourth of July celebration.

Independence Day

Old-fashioned fun takes over at Baylands Park

By Natasha Collins

The smell of hot dogs on the grill, the sounds of giggling kids and the feel of sunshine all around marked this year's community Fourth of July Celebration at Sunnyvale Baylands County Park.

"It is like an old-fashioned Fourth of July that you see in the movies," said Lauren Chen, who was at the celebration with her 2-year-old son. "The food and the music and the old-time games made it a lot of fun for everyone."

The event was organized by the Sunnyvale Parks and Recreation Department.

Thousands gathered at the park to partake in the numerous activities. Food booths serving frozen lemonade, ice cream and other "traditional American cuisine" like hot dogs and hamburgers fueled festival-goers for the busy day.

More than a dozen games lined the south perimeter of the park, including Cool Pool, Ball Bingo and Slap Shot. The favorite game of the day, however, was the one in which children could kill tyrannosaurus rex by shooting a picture of him with a suction- cup cross bow.

For less than a buck children could play the game of their choice and everyone could win a prize. The prizes included colored pencils; army parachute men in a variety of colors; rubber snakes, spiders and lizards; and inflatable hammers.

"The games are cool," said 8-year-old Johnathon as he held up the dinosaur pencil he won by sinking a hockey puck into a goal. "If my dad will let me, I am going to go and play more games."

The kids were not the only ones enjoying themselves at the Baylands. A live band--playing songs by Neil Young, Steely Dan and the Beatles--entertained the adults and had them dancing in the sunshine. It was not an unusual sight to see a couple dancing cheek to cheek with a toddler on one of their shoulders.

"It is an opportunity for us to do something together as a family," said Tim Ryan, who was with his two young children. "It has been great for the kids because there has been so much for them to do. I think we are having as much fun as they are, though."

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This article appeared in the Sunnyvale Sun, July 9, 1997.
©1997 Metro Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved.