Five Things to Do for Fourth of July Weekend

Written by: Sarah Webster, Public Affairs Specialist, Commissioner’s Office

As in past year Fourth of July parades, the Boulder City Damboree event is a colorful, fun, exciting and yes, wet event for those who enjoy a chance for a cool splash of water to rinse away summer heat. Photos courtesy of Michael Bernardo.There are many places to go celebrate Fourth of July this weekend, but here is a list of five events happening at or near a Bureau of Reclamation facility:

1. Boulder City, Nev.—The 2015 Boulder City Damboree parade and fireworks show takes place on Saturday, starting at 9 a.m. Festival goers should get into position by 8:30 a.m. Along the parade route, there is a “wet zone” where the exchange of cooling streams of water is allowed. Dress in red, white and blue and plan to get wet! Also, be sure to look up and take notice of the flyover featuring pilots from the Boulder City Veteran's Flying Group. And then at 6 p.m., head over to Veteran’s Memorial Park for food, music, and fireworks! For more information, contact Wittig at (702) 293-8088, Lisa Cronister at (702) 293-8492, or Marc Maynard at (702) 293-8344.

2. Grand Coulee, Wash.—Free Admission to the Festival of America happening July 3-4, 2015 in the park below the Grand Coulee Visitor Center. This fireworks display off the top of the Grand Coulee Dam is voted "Best of Show" for Washington State. Friday and Saturday features arts and crafts, food, and live music nightly. On the evening of July 4th, immediately following the nightly laser light show, the fireworks display will be launched off the top of the Dam. For more information, visit http://grandcouleedam.org/festivalofamerica.html.

3. Sonora, Calif.—Visit New Melones Lake over the Fourth of July weekend and enjoy its many recreational opportunities. The Glory Hole Recreation Area (4 a.m. to 11 p.m.) offers many hiking and biking trails to explore. The Ironhorse and Big Oak Campgrounds, along with the Osprey Point and Black Bart Day Use Areas, are open for camping, picnicking and shore fishing. Unimproved lake access for car-top or small boats is available at Glory Hole Point (four-wheel drive is recommended for boat launching).

On Saturday, July 4th, at 7:30 p.m., visitors are invited to the Glory Hole Amphitheater to join in the fun playing Reclamation's version of JEOPARDY! Park Rangers will divide participants into teams and test their knowledge of the lake’s history and wildlife. This activity is free and does not require reservations. Participants will be issued a parking pass for the duration of the event. In the Tuttletown Recreation Area (4 a.m. to 11 p.m.) the Manzanita Campground and the Heron Point, Eagle Point and Lupine Day Use Areas are open. Tuttletown offers eight miles of hiking and biking trails through oak woodlands. An RV dump station is available for a fee. The Acorn and Chamise Campgrounds and the Tuttletown Launch Ramp are closed. The New Melones Lake Marina, located in the Glory Hole Recreation Area, offers boat rentals, boat slips, marine fuel, a retail store and other services. For updated marina service information, please visit the marina's website at http://newmeloneslakemarina.com. The Mark Twain Day Use Area (6:30 a.m. to sunset on weekdays and holiday weekends; 7:30 a.m. to sunset on non-holiday weekends) is great for fishing, hiking and picnicking. Campsites are available by reservation and on a first-come, first served basis. To make a reservation, visit www.recreation.gov, or call (877) 444-6777. For a listing of New Melones fees, please visit http://www.usbr.gov/mp/ccao/newmelones/docs/latest_Pass_Fee_Info_Handout.pdf.

4. Estes Park, Colo.—The Independence Day Weekend Celebration kicks off on Friday, July 3, with the Estes Park Board of REALTORS and the PBR hosting the evening. Walker Williams will entertain the crowd with music. Kids can enjoy activities such as human bowling, face painting and a photo booth. There will also be a pig roast and bull riding. On Saturday, July 4, check out the car show featuring 100 "Steam-to-Electric" on display at the new Estes Park Events Complex, at the Stanley Park Fairgrounds. Along with steam and electric cars, other street rods, stock cars, muscle cars, sports cars, vintage and classic cars will be on display. At 7 p.m., the Estes Village Band tunes up for its annual patriotic concert featuring the works of John Philip Sousa and others. The concert is free to attend and will be held at the Performance Park Amphitheater, at the west end of downtown.

The Fireworks Show starts at 9:30 p.m. over Lake Estes. Find a grassy spot at Stanley Park, along the Lake Estes Trail, or on the mountainside. For more information, visit http://www.visitestespark.com/events-calendar/special-events/july-4/.

5. City of Boise, Idaho—The city of Boise and media sponsors Idaho Statesman, 6 on Your Side, and 107.1 K-HITS are putting on the 9th annual Fourth of July Fireworks Celebration, Saturday, July 4, in Ann Morrison Park. There will be live music and entertainment, a chalk art festival that highlights featured local artists who donate their time to create wonderful works of art, children’s bike rodeo and parade, and a day of family fun. For more information, visit: http://www.idahostatesman.com/fireworks/#storylink=cpy.

Published on July 02, 2015