Fourth of July is right around the corner, and to celebrate the nation’s independence, many Americans will be gathering to barbecue with family and friends or to watch fireworks at communal events.
Clarkdale
In Clarkdale, the Fourth of July celebration has an extra bonus this year. After months of construction, Wednesday, July 4, will mark the grand reopening of the Clarkdale Town Park.
“There really couldn’t be a better day to celebrate the reopening of the Town Park than the Fourth of July,” Clarkdale Town Manager Gayle Mabery wrote in a press release. “It is Clarkdale’s quintessential hometown event where many families come back to celebrate for the day. Opening the Town Park back up to the public on this special day just seems to make the most sense.”
Clarkdale’s celebration will begin with a flag raising ceremony at the park gazebo at 7 a.m. to officially open the park followed by live music by Livas/Morgan and a pancake breakfast hosted by Clarkdale Police Department and the Verde Valley Fire District.
At 8:30 a.m. the Verde Valley Fire District will provide fire truck rides.
At 9 a.m. the annual kids parade will start at ClarkdaleJerome School. Registration will start at 8:15 a.m. The parade will travel down Main Street, past the Town Park and conclude at Town Hall. Kids age 6 to 16 are invited to participate, even with their pets, and prizes will be awarded for Best Decorated Bicycle, Best Decorated Pet, Best Decorated Wagon, Most Original and Most Patriotic.
Throughout the event, local vendors will be present, and at 9:30 a.m. the Cottonwood Community Band will perform.
Prior to 1 p.m., before the departure of the Firecracker Express, the Verde Canyon Railroad will host an All-American Barbecue.
Cottonwood
Cottonwood Parks and Recreation will be hosting events at the Verde Valley Fair Grounds at 800 E. Cherry St. starting at 4 p.m. The event will feature typical fair attractions, such as games, a water slide, inflatable rides and a watermelon eating contest.
Food will also be available from 4 to 6 p.m., jointly provided by Fry’s Food and Drug store, the Knights of Columbus and Verde District Kiwanis.
At 7:45 p.m. the Veterans of Foreign Wars Color Guard will perform music, presentations and a patriotic salute, followed by the main event — fireworks at 8:45 p.m.
Due to the dry season and the risk of fire, the firework display this year has been limited to smaller shells that will have a smaller fall zone for debris.
Camp Verde
Camp Verde will not host any events, but Cliff Castle Casino has Fourth of July festivities covered. Starting at 4 p.m., join the Free Family Fun Picnic at the Stargazer Pavilion, featuring complementary hot dogs, chips and soda.
For kids, there will be face painters, an inflatable bounce house, an obstacle course with a slide and more.
Weather permitting, the casino will set off fireworks at 9:15 p.m., which will last about 20 minutes.
Jon Hecht can be reached at 634-8551 or email jhecht@larsonnewspapers.com
