Fireworks Light Up The Southland — And Inspire A Marriage Proposal — On July 4
STUDIO CITY (CBSLA.com) — Crowds gathered across the Southland Friday night to celebrate July 4 with spectacular fireworks displays lighting up the sky — and inspiring a marriage proposal on the CBS Radford lot.
Josh Rubenstein and entertainment reporter Suzanne Marques were on the Studio City lot, where thousands of guests, including some veterans, enjoyed a day of fun-filled entertainment, culminating in a blazing show of red, white and blue.
The community event even inspired a local man to get down on one knee.
"He told me to dress up tonight and look pretty [but he said], 'You always do,' and then it just happened," the bride-to-be said.
KCAL9's Rachel Kim spent the day at Pasadena's Rose Bowl for the 88th Annual Americafest Fourth of July Show, where thousands enjoyed the entertainment, including two tons of festive explosives.
"I've never seen fireworks this loud and this big before," one onlooker said.
KCAL9's Bobby Kaple was meanwhile in Simi Valley, where the show went off without a hitch - despite a scene last year that left dozens injured after a mortar tipped over during the display.
Rotary Club President Becky Savell defended re-hiring Bay Fireworks, the company that put on last year's show, for the event.
"After great deliberation, we determined that the best course was to go again with Bay Fireworks. And they're taking every precaution. They're going above and beyond the fire marshal's requirements," Savell said.
KCAL9's Jeff Nguyen was 80 miles south in Newport Beach, where 200 officers were on the beat for what's been a historically rowdy day on the Peninsula.
While some revelers complained things were getting too rowdy, others happily soaked up the sun on the coast, insisting this year's festivities were a marked improvement from last year.
"Today was actually an awesome day. A lot of people, a lot of kids, and it was a lot calmer than it was last year," resident Jim DeFrank said.
A police department spokesperson said about 80 percent of the arrests on July 4 are alcohol-related. Eight-four arrests had been reported at press time.