By Mary O’KEEFE

Memorial Day weekend was a huge community party sponsored by the La Cañada Flintridge Chamber of Commerce. From pancakes to cars, parades and fireworks it was a busy weekend with lots to enjoy.

The events began Friday night with the roll of the dice at Casino Night at the Community Center. Among the activities on Saturday were a car show and community breakfast hosted by the Kiwanis A.M. at Memorial Park.

Alex Kirkaldy stood close to his 1929 Model A Roadster as people walked by, some dreaming of owning car like his, some having fun looking at the Bob’s Big Boy carhop tray on the driver’s window. And, of course, no one could resist taking a picture with the large stuffed teddy bear sitting in the passenger seat.

“Yes, that’s Meatball,” Kirkaldy joked, referring to Meatball, the local bear that enjoyed dining out of garage refrigerators and garbage cans until he was captured and sent to an animal preserve.

“And I put a rose in his mouth,” he added.

Kirkaldy has owned his Roadster for 30 years. He restored it, and is still restoring it.

“Once you get involved, you are always working on it,” he said. He did install a turbo 400 transmission in the Roadster, so it travels a little faster than it did in the ’20s.

“It’s lots of fun,” he added.

The pancake breakfast began early with plenty of food for everyone. The weather was perfect for an early morning meal.

Sunday was full of activities capped with a barbecue and fireworks at Memorial Park. Monday began with a run, continued with a Memorial Day observance and ended with the kick off of the Music in the Park summer series by Captain Cardiac and the Coronaries, the classic oldies party rock and roll show band.

“[Everything this weekend] was over the top,” said Pat Anderson, president of La Cañada Flintridge Chamber of Commerce. “Every event was well attended and virtually no problems … This is the type of weekend the chamber wants to have.”

“This is the ultimate community weekend,” said Anthony Portantino, LCF resident and former state assemblymember.

He added that many people have the option to leave for the holiday, but decide to stay near home because of Fiesta Days.

“And we are already planning next year,” Anderson said.

For more pictures of Fiesta Days, visit www.cvweekly.com and click on NEWS.

  Mary Okeefe