The United States of America is celebrating 250 years since the signing of the Declaration of Independence, but the Verde Valley will have plenty of events to help you celebrate like it’s 1776.
Clarkdale
Clarkdale’s Old Fashioned 4th of July gets underway at 7 a.m. in Clarkdale Town Park at 1001 Main St. with the pancake breakfast served up by Clarkdale Police Department and Verde Valley Fire District. Adults are $6 and kids 12 and under are $4, with welcoming comments by Clarkdale Mayor Robyn Prud’homme-Bauer and a color guard presentation by VFW Post 7400.
At 8 a.m., children’s games get underway, alongside fire truck rides hosted by VVFD.
“We’re expanding our kids parade with floats this year,” Prud’homme-Bauer said. “We’ve got local mayors, families, and businesses taking part, we’re just going to have a lot of fun with it.”
The Children’s Parade starts at 9 a.m., traveling from Clarkdale-Jerome School to Clarkdale Town Park. Parade winners are announced at 9:45 a.m., followed by the Cottonwood Community Band and an ice cream social, with the morning festivities ending at noon.
“For the USA 250 celebration, the annual Kids’ Parade is expanding, and all community members are invited to walk, roll, and stroll down Main Street,” the town wrote in a press release. “Kids can win cash prizes and ribbons, and all entries will receive a small gift. Bonus points will be awarded for creativity, small-town charm, history and sustainability.”
Clarkdale will cap off its celebration on Saturday with a special concert from the Phoenix-based band Rhythm Edition in Clarkdale Town Park from 7 to 9 p.m., performing patriotic music.
For more information, visit clarkdale.az.gov/FourthofJuly or call 928-639-2460.
Cottonwood
The city of Cottonwood’s 27th Annual Fantastic Family 4th of July takes place from 4 to 9:30 p.m. at Cottonwood Kids Park, 350 S. 12th St., culminating in a flyover from Luke Air Force Base, whose arrival time is being finalized and is in the window of between 6 and 7:30 p.m., and the Verde Valley’s only fireworks show at 9 p.m.
“It’s a big Fourth of July Independence Day celebration for the community that culminates in what we consider the best Northern Arizona pyrotechnic show,” Community Services Director Jak Teel said. “Throughout the day we’ll have free food brought to you by any number of partners, and we’ll have water rides and bounce houses put on by Verve throughout the entire day of the event as well.”
Free food will be served from 4 to 6 p.m., with the menu consisting of the holiday staples of hot dogs, chips and drinks, grilled up by the Knights of Columbus and served by Cub Scouts and city council members.
“How often do you get to say that you’re celebrating 250 years of anything?” Teel said. “But to celebrate 250 years of our nation is a pretty important and impressive thing for all of us to be able to live through and get an opportunity to look back and reflect on where we came from since that initial Independence Day.”
Attendees can enjoy water rides, bounce houses, slides and an obstacle course. A $10 wristband is required for the inflatables, and parking is $1 per vehicle, cash only, with the proceeds going to benefit Valley Academy for Career and Technology Education. Around 7:15 p.m. VFW will perform a patriotic salute, including a presentation of colors and taps.
“The fireworks are weather dependent but the only time Cottonwood has ever canceled the show was the Rodeo-Chediski fire in 2002,” Teel said. “We take lots of extra precautions, obviously. Right now, fireworks are banned throughout the county, so we have to go through a special permitting process to even allow ourselves to shoot fireworks.”
Sedona
The city of Sedona is hosting three events at the Sedona Community Pool, located 570 Posse Ground Road: the Dive-In Movie on Friday, July 3, at 7:30 p.m. with a screening of “Finding Nemo”; the Sedona Summer Splash from noon to 4 p.m., with free pool admission and activities; and Stars, Stripes & Skates, a free synthetic ice skating rink.
“It was just one of the wildest ideas that came up when we got the instruction from City Council that they wanted us to create an event that was above and beyond what we normally do, and in celebration of America’s 250,” Special Events Coordinator Jason Vargo said. “I’m excited that people will be able to try out the rink and chill out in the pool.”
Stars, Stripes & Skates takes place:
- Wednesday through Friday, July 1 through 3, from 3:30 to 9:30 p.m.
- Saturday, July 4, from noon to 9:30 p.m.
- Sunday, July 5, from 1:30 to 9:30 p.m.
For the Sedona Summer Splash at the pool, there will be music from DJ Frsh, along with slip and slides, a dunk tank and a free hourly raffle.
“Recreation swim will be limited to 300 people at one time, but festivities outside the pool gate will not be limited,” according to a city press release. “Swim attire is required for pool use and water shoes or other secure foot covering are recommended for the wet zone.”
For more information visit sedonaaz.gov/events or call 928-282-7098.
Sedona Elks Club
The Sedona Elks Lodge at 110 Airport Road is hosting its barbecue from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. with music by DJ Sound Events, serving up the 4th of July food staples for $20 a plate. For more information, call 928-282-7571 or contact secretary@sedonaelks.org.
Camp Verde
Camp Verde Heritage Pool: On Saturday, July 4, the pool will have free entry with lap swim from 7 to 9 a.m. and open swim from noon to 6 p.m.
Jerome
Founder’s Fourth of July Parade: Saturday, July 4, at 10 a.m. Everyone in the Verde Valley is invited to participate in the Founder’s 4th of July Parade, which also commemorates Jerome’s founding in 1876.
