By Cady Price
Special to the Alpine Mountaineer
Mountain Top Days kicked off on Friday, Aug. 1 with a parade led by County Supervisor Dawn Rowe, this year’s grand marshal. This year’s theme, “Still the Gateway,” celebrated the fact that Running Springs survived the Line Fire in September 2024.
Folks began lining Hilltop Boulevard around 5:00 p.m., anxiously awaiting the parade while chatting with friends and neighbors. At 6:15, the parade participants began their march down the highway.
Kevin Somes and Dean Langley from the Running Springs Area Chamber of Commerce – sponsor of Mountain Tops Days – carried the banner announcing the theme.
Dean Langley and Kevin Somes carried the banner announcing this year’s Mountain Top Days’ theme. (Photo by Cady Price)
Other local businesses and groups – such as Pali Mountain, the Golden Oaks, Rim Blue Star Moms, Refuge Christian Church, First Foundation Bank, Rim Family Services and Mountain Lyrical Private Studio – had floats or marchers in the parade. Bringing up the rear were the Running Springs Fire Department, the Arrowbear Lake Fire Department and the California Highway Patrol. As they sounded their sirens and horns, youngsters cheered and waved to the first responders.
The parade was followed up by Friday Night Live, a street party on Commercial Way that included live music, a beer and wine garden, and plenty of family fun.
But the fun did not stop there. Mountain Top Days continued on Saturday, Aug. 2 with an enhanced farmers market. Hundreds of local children were able to pick up free backpacks filled with school supplies. The Running Springs Area Chamber of Commerce has decided to extend the backpack giveaway to Saturday, Aug. 9; look for the chamber’s booth at the farmers market. They thank Mountain Transit, Pali Mountain, Kids Corner and the chamber’s board of directors for their donations.
The highlight of the Saturday events is the bucket brigade – a contest between the Running Springs Fire Department and the Arrowbear Lake Fire Department. Each team had to transfer water from one trough to another with buckets as quickly as possible. The Running Springs firefighters triumphed with a time of 2:40:27.
Somes, the chamber president, estimates that more than 1,700 people attended this year’s Mountain Top Days, making it the most successful in recent years.
“Mountain Top Days has been a community tradition for decades,” said Mike Lee, the chamber’s vice president and Mountain Top Days chairman. “This year’s event was truly a great community event with strong attendance.”
Mark your calendars for Mountain Top Days 2026, which will take place on Aug. 7 and 8.
The watermelon eating contest always draws a crowd – refreshing on a hot day! (Photo by Kevin Somes)
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