Celebrate 4th of July in Sonoma County 2008

Independence Day Celebrations in Sonoma County:

• July 3 : 4th of July Celebration -- Windsor
  The 16 Annual Fireworks Spectacular will be held at Kaiser Park. There will be free family games and music, as well as food and non-alcoholic drinks for sale. 4pm to 9pm. Fireworks at 9:30. Park at Windsor High School at 8695 Windsor Rd. There will be no parking at Kaiser Park, but pedestrians are welcomed. (707) 838-1260
  Also, at the Town Green there will be a farmer’s market along with live music from Fishbear & Beatles Flashback. Enjoy fresh produce, dinner, music and dancing. And you can even see the fireworks that shoot up high enough from Kaiser Park. 5-8:30pm; 9455 Bell Rd. (map).

• July 3 : Annual 3rd of July Fireworks -- Sebastopol
  Fireworks show, music, drinks for sale.
  Celebration starts at 5:30 p.m.; fireworks at dark. Admission to the Analy High School football field is from $3 to $7 and all proceeds go to a community nonprofit. Many people also view the fireworks, for free, from the high school lawn. 6950 Analy Ave. See Map 823-1511

• July 3 : Annual Fireworks at the Sonoma County Fairgrounds -- Santa Rosa
  Also called Red, White and Boom. See details on Page 1.

• July 4 : 5th Annual Bicycle Santa Rosa 4th Of July Festival And Bike Ride – Santa Rosa
  See more info on Page 1.

• July 4 : SesquiFest-- Petaluma
  This year, Petaluma is observing its 150th anniversary, and they’re making a joint celebration to go along with Independence Day. So this year, the events and fireworks are a bit extra special. The day starts off with a 10K run at Putnam Park, then the celebration moves over to the Marin-Sonoma Fairgrounds for live music, fun for kids, food and fireworks display. Plus, there will be a special production by Cinnabar’s Young Rep theater, "The Petaluma River Anthology." In honor of the city’s sesquicentennial, the young actors interviewed elders in the community and asked them to share their most compelling memories of life in Petaluma. And then these narratives were compiled to make the play.
  At the Sonoma-Marin (Petaluma) Fairgrounds, entry on E. Washington and Ellis streets. Gates open at 3pm. $5 admission, free for kids under 13. The play begins at 3:45pm. 769-0429
  For more information, go to the sesquicentennial calendar page and type “July” into the box that asks for the month.

• July 4 : 4th of July Parade & Old Fashioned Celebration-—Sonoma
  This really is a sweet and charming, old-fashioned kind of celebration. The festivities take place at the Sonoma Plaza with booths, food art show, games, etc. The parade starts at 10am and goes around the plaza. This year’s theme is: “Getting it Done: The Working Men and Women of Sonoma.” Then there’s music by the Hometown Band, followed by a patriotic ceremony, music by Crossfire, parade awards, music by Carlos Herrera, and eventually there are fireworks at the field by General Vallejo’s house (east of the plaza). (707) 938-4626

• July 4 : 4th of July Hometown Parade--Kenwood
  After 40 years of 4th of July celebrations, Kenwood cancelled last year’s event. It seems too many folks (lots of rowdy ones at that) were showing up for the always hilarious World Championship Pillow Fights and wreaking havoc in the small hamlet. This year, the parade and celebration are back—without the pillow fights. Now, the schedule includes: Pancake breakfast at the Kenwood Community Church at 7am; footrace at 7:30am; and the parade around the Plaza Park at 10am; followed by awards, talent show, music, food and more. (No fireworks display.)

• July 4 : Old Fashioned 4th of July Fireworks Display--Healdsburg
  Presented by the American Legion - Sotoyome Post 111, at Healdsburg High School Athletic Field, 1024 Prince Ave. Fireworks start at 9:30 pm, and last for approximately 40 minutes, donations are welcome. This is the 18th year that local veterans are sponsoring the show. When I called to find details about the event, the veteran I spoke with said, “What do you mean ‘when’? It’s on the 4th of July, of course.” When I countered that not all the celebrations are being held on Friday, he replied, “Well, if it’s a Fourth of July celebration then it needs to be held on the Fourth of July, and ours is.” Leave it to the vets to make sure that our Independence Day is celebrated on the right

• July 5: Fireworks Over the River and the Big Rocky Games -- Monte Rio
  The Big Rocky Games include volleyball and horseshoe tournaments, water balloon toss, swimming contests, watermelon eating and lots more. Then, the parade of lites takes place on the river in which watercraft (basically, anything that can stay afloat) makes its way down the river while people dance and wave on top. And, of course, there's the fireworks. (707) 865-9956

• July 5 : Fireworks over the Bay -- Bodega Bay
  Fireworks over the water, starting at dusk, rain or shine (or fog).
  Starts around 9:30 p.m.; Free, donations welcome; Westside Park, 2400 Westside Road (707) 875-3001

• July 6 : Independence Day Celebration -- Guerneville
  A crafts fair, BBQ, and block party, culminating in a fireworks show above Main Street. Starts at 10am, BBQ at 1pm. (707) 869-9000