FYI - Oceanside is making some big bucks off 'Christmas in July' - parking tickets

I just want to warn anyone who is planning on going to Christmas in July at the Mission that you CANNOT park on Mission Rd - TONS of people were parking on Mission Road & we did too.  The Mission was charging $2 for parking and we thought - 'let's save $2 and just get a little exercise while we are at it.'

*sigh*
well as we walked the long walk back to our car we noticed EVERYONE had a parking ticket!! There were FOUR officers giving tickets out - just waiting for more people to park - walk away from there car & BAM $55 ticket!

now to be fair - there is  a small sign that says no parking WAY at the front.  But we parked nearly at the end of the street, we never even saw it.  Legally it is all that is needed, but it was frustrating. You would think that when there is a community event they would have those little signs out that say 'no parking' right?

Or I don't know - maybe the Mission could have put out a sign that says 'if you parked along Mission Road please note you will be ticketed'

We got there early and there wasn't anybody giving out tickets yet - but it was pretty terrible that the officers just sat in their trucks and waited and watched as people pulled in, gathered their family, walked away from their car and then hit them with a ticket.  If they were gonna be there anyway - why not say 'hey - we are ticketing cars here you should probably park elsewhere.' or just put up a sign.....I'm guessing neither of my thoughts are very profitable though......

Anyway - we work really hard at saving $$ in our house and we were happy to go an support the fundraiser at the Mission - but I really wish they would have made the parking issue a little more clear that's all & with all the tickets we say I thought it might be a nice thing to give readers the heads up....nobody else is gonna -

Kate