The celebration of the 100th anniversary of Lake Arrowhead Village was quite the show, with performances of many kinds, beginning with the Mackenzie Water Ski School performing a three-person pyramid on water skis and speeding around the bay area in front of the Village, avoiding the many spectator boats, and ending with the Village being filled with circus performers entertaining the crowd.

The Village peninsula, which is slated for reconstruction in the fall, was the scene for most of the activities as the afternoon progressed. The celebration started dockside with the water ski show, while the Mountain Fifes & Drums Corps performed some music, entertaining the crowd. Then the colorful performers emerged from the Arrowhead Queen and were led by the Fifes & Drums, creating quite the visual contrast, attracting the surprised tourists’ interest.

The parade marched up the stairs to the Center Stage area and around the Village peninsula. The Fifes & Drums then performed several songs in front of Center Stage and then marched away.

Afterwards the Bill Ungerman Jazz Band picked up the attention of the crowd and performed on the stage, encouraging some to dance to the music. Elsewhere, set up in small areas along the peninsula, the circus performers began to delight the visitors.

Next to the Pendleton outlet store was Scott Henson, the tight rope walker, and Carlos Ragas, the ball walker with the face painter Helen Udy and two caricature artists drawing free pictures of the people in the Village. But even while in line awaiting the artwork to be drawn, the people were entertained by the jugglers, Alex Brustrexsky on a unicycle and Carey Prickford, with Jewel twirling her hula hoops while wandering around with Rebecca and Amy O’Neil on tall stilts in colorful costumes, amazing the children and adults.

The other performers, such as mountain local 19-year-old Zac Swan, performed close-up magic with cards and other common objects, while balloon artist Eddie Medrano made swords and hats, and bubble girl Haley had a spot set up along the peninsula where people got involved in their acts. Smiles were seen everywhere.

Over at the photo op location for the 100th anniversary, Jay Kerner, the CEO and president of U.S. Realty Partners, was presented many certificates from local politicians honoring the 100th anniversary – Hayden Bartz, representing Congressman Jay Obernolte; Jett Benavidez, representing Senator Rosalicie Ochoa Bogh; and Miriam Munoz, who represents Assemblyman Thurston “Smitty” Smith.

Lewis Murray, who represents both County Supervisors Dawn Rowe and Janice Rutherford, was present. Kerner was overwhelmed with certificates, which he assured those assembled would hang proudly on his office walls at Lake Arrowhead Village.

As visitors arrived at the Village that afternoon previously unaware of the festivities, they saw the signs and were happy that all the entertainment was free, and whole families quickly got involved and said they were having unexpected fun and were delighted they chose to visit this Sunday.