26 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY June 27-July 3, 2024 www.montereycountynow.com HOT PICKS This is what Fourth on the Wharf looks like. In addition to celebrations, food and music, you are invited to dress in red, white and blue and to submit a winning photo. Courtesy of the Fisherman’s Wharf ASSOCIATION embroidery and 19th-century games. Guided history tours are also available. 11am- 3pm. Monterey State Historic Park, Memory Garden, 20 Custom House Plaza, Monterey. Free; donations welcome. 6492907, parks.ca.gov/?page_id=575. Independent Streak Hear the document that started it all, the Declaration of Independence, read aloud by members of the Rotary Club of Pacific Grove, followed by the Monterey Peninsula Voices choir singing the National Anthem. Enjoy an antique military vehicles show, free T-shirts and kids’ activities. 11am-3pm. Jewell Park, 148 Grand Ave., Pacific Grove. Free. 373-3304, chamber@ pacificgrove.org. Red, White and Blues The City of Seaside hosts its annual Red, White and Blues festival. Beyond live blues music, there’s a petting zoo, pony rides, inflatable obstacle courses, face painting, arts and crafts, bungee jumping, a rock wall, bounce houses, local food and craft vendors. Live entertainment features Coco Montoya with special guests Rosewood and John “Broadway” Tucker Revue. 11am-4pm. City Hall lawn, 440 Harcourt Ave., Seaside. Free. 899-6700, ci.seaside.ca.us. Freedom Fighters The SeaMont Memorial Auxiliary to the VFW Post #8679 invites veterans to celebrate the holiday that acknowledges the first American fight for freedom. This is an annual fundraiser and membership drive. Admission includes hamburgers, hot dogs and dessert, and entertainment includes live music. Noon-6pm. VFW Post 8679, 1996 Fremont Blvd., Seaside. $10. 601-3175, vfw.org. Air Power This event offers a chance to see acclaimed aerobatic pilot Sean Tucker make seemingly impossible maneuvers in the air. It also includes local wine and craft beer, barbecue, live music by the Carolyn Sills Combo, Casey Frazier and Wild at Heart. This event is for a cause and 100 percent of proceeds support the nonprofit Veterans Transition Center, with a goal of ending veteran homelessness. 1-8pm. Rancho Cielo Youth Campus, 710 Old Stage Road, Salinas. $100; free/children ages 12 and under. 444-3533, vtcofcalifornia. org/4thofjuly. Pops Music The sounds of a pops orchestra are part of the modern American July Fourth tradition. Hear the classics courtesy of the Monterey County Pops! Orchestra starting at 2pm. Before they go on, Monterey Peninsula Gospel Choir performs another classic American genre starting at 1pm. 1-3:30pm. Devendorf Park, 6th and Mission, Carmel. Free. 484-5511, montereycountypops.org. Good Vintage Compass Church hosts a day of family-friendly festivities—bounce houses, carnival rides, a car show—along with a thematic patriotic service starting at 7:30pm, featuring live music, a medal ceremony for veterans, a vintage plane flyover and color guard performance. The evening is capped by the biggest fireworks display in the county (see schedule, left). 2-9:30pm Thursday, July 4. Salinas Sports Complex, 1034 N. Main St., Salinas. Free. 422-7811, carodeo.com/events/2024/compass-church-4th-of-july-fireworks. Family Festival The City of Greenfield invites everyone to bring your lawn chairs and blankets to make a day of gathering with family, friends and neighbors. At dusk, expect a fireworks show (see schedule, left). 3-9pm. Patriot Park, 1351 Oak Ave., Greenfield. Free. 674-5591, ci.greenfield. ca.us. Do you feel independent? In Monterey County, you can celebrate that feeling from 9am to at least 10pm on Independence Day. The real question is what to do to celebrate the ratification of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. All events below take place on Thursday, July 4, unless otherwise noted. Early Bird Get up early and start your day with fluffy pancakes prepared by the Monterey firefighters from Station 11 and MY Museum. Hurry up to get a ticket; pancakes are served at 7:30am, 8:30am and 9:30am. It features kids’ activities, music, a fire truck and the chance to interact with local firefighters. 7-10:30am. Fire Station 11, 600 Pacific St., Monterey. $15. 649-6444, info@mymuseum. org, mymuseum.org/July4. Fourth on the Wharf Old Fisherman’s Wharf merchants feature holiday specials, including confections at the three candy shops. Stop by the wharf, take a photo of yourself, friends or family and join the red, white and blue photo contest. Participants are encouraged to dress in said colors and submit photos to info@montereywharf. com by midnight on July 4. 9am-10pm. Old Fisherman’s Wharf, Monterey. Free. 238-0777, montereywharf.com. Marching Forward Monterey’s annual Fourth of July parade draws approximately 15,000 people of all ages to line the streets in and around Old Monterey. 10am. Downtown (Alvarado Street and Calle Principal), Monterey. Free. 655-8070, info@ oldmonterey.org, oldmonterey.org/monterey-4th-july. Block Party Show your red, white and blue in King City. A hometown parade marches through downtown at 10:30am, followed by a Fourth of July celebration at 11:30am, which includes live entertainment, vendors and concessions, a talent show, dunk tank, pools and kids zone. City pools will be open starting at noon. 10:30am parade starts downtown at Broadway and 2nd Street; 11:30am celebration at San Lorenzo County Park, 1160 Broadway, King City. Free. 385-3814, kingcitychamber.com. Backyard Bash The City of Monterey’s big Independence Day celebration and backyard food festival invites everyone of all ages to join in an outdoor community gathering. Live music starts with The Pfeffers at 10:45am, then Pure Ecstasy, The Money Band and Neon Velvet at 3pm. Purchase food or bring a picnic lunch. 10:45am-5pm. Colton Hall lawn, 570 Pacific St., Monterey. Free. 646-5648, oldmonterey. org/monterey-4th-july. Living History Monterey State Historic Park hosts Living History Day with an invitation to learn about times gone by. Step back in time and participate in early California activities such as rope-making, leather-stamping, tortilla-making, FIREWORKS ✺✺ Fireworks shows are few and far between in Monterey County, and police promise to crack down on illegal fireworks this year. Safeand-sane fireworks are allowed in select cities, but for the sky-high variety, here are your opportunities to see a show. King City 9-10pm Wednesday, July 3. Stampede Arena at Salinas Valley Fairgrounds, 625 Division St., King City. $1. 385‑3814, kingcitychamber.com. Fort Hunter Liggett 6-10pm Thursday, July 4. Schoonover Airfield, 238 California Ave. (on Fort Hunter Liggett), Jolon. $5. 386‑2505, home.army.mil/liggett. Greenfield 7-9pm Thursday, July 4. Patriot Park, 1351 Oak Ave., Greenfield. Free. 674‑5591, ci.greenfield.ca.us. Salinas 7:30-9:30pm Thursday, July 4. Salinas Sports Complex, 1034 N. Main St., Salinas. Free. 422‑7811, carodeo.com/ events/2024/compass-church-4th-of-july-fireworks. Send ideas to calendar@montereycountynow.com Game Plan Monterey County offers a busy schedule of Fourth of July events. By Agata Pop˛eda
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MjAzNjQ1NQ==