Tulare and Kings counties will once again celebrate Independence Day in style. A variety of daytime celebrations, followed by evening fireworks displays, have been scheduled throughout the area.
The Woodlake Kiwanis will help start things off with their Woodlake July 3rd Blast on Thursday. The celebration will be held at Miller Brown Park in downtown Woodlake. Vendors, kids games, bounce houses, music and events will be featured. The evening ends with a fireworks display. For more information, visit woodlakekiwanis.com.
The City of Exeter begins its Friday holiday schedule with its Fourth of July in the Park, from 7am-3pm. Events feature live entertainment, a pancake breakfast, 10k run and 2-mile walk, a horseshoe tournament, face painting, mini train rides, a petting zoo, Reptile Ron’s live reptile show, arts & crafts and food booths, and a fireworks display presented by the Lions Club at Lions Stadium, just east of town on Rocky Hill Drive.
The fireworks show will begin at dusk (about 8:45-9pm). Concessions will be available and ice chests are discouraged. Donations are encouraged since this is the only source of revenue for the show, which will cost the club more than $10,000. Lion Paul Evans, the club’s licensed pyrotechnician, organizes and runs the show. This is one of a few shows that is still lit by hand and not electronically. For more information, contact the Exeter Chamber of Commerce at 592-2919 or visit www.exeterchamber.com.
The Visalia Parks & Recreation Foundation, in partnership with the City of Visalia, will present the annual Freedom Celebration on Friday, July 4, at Giant Chevrolet Mineral King Bowl, 1001 W. Main St. Gates open at 6:30pm, with a spectacular fireworks presentation at 9pm. Local favorite Run 4 Cover will perform, and concessions will be available.
No ice chests or outside food and beverages are allowed. A donation of $3 per person is requested, but admission is free. For more information, call 713-4599.
The Hanford Chamber of Commerce will present “Proud to be an American” at Earl F. Johnson Park beginning at noon with kids’ activities, a car show, food booths and a beer garden. A fireworks show will be held at Hanford High School Neighbor Bowl at 9pm. Gates open at 6pm, and kids activities and food will be available. For more information, call the chamber at 582-0483.
The Annual 4th of July Celebration at Lemoore City Parks kicks off with the Firecracker Fun Run at 7am. Check-in begins at 6am, the race is at 7am. Registration is $20. After the race, the American Legion will hold a breakfast. Music, live entertainment, water games, bounce houses, food and craft vendors and more are featured. Admission is free. For information, visit lemoore.com/parks.
Tachi Palace in Lemoore will host a free firework celebration beginning at 5pm on Friday with a mini-carnival, bounce house and live music in the outdoor pavilion. Lawn chairs and coolers are allowed, but no glass bottles or alcohol will be permitted. For information, visit tachipalace.com.
Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks will also welcome you on July 4th, but their recent press releases make it clear that fireworks are prohibited for safety reasons. People in possession of fireworks in the parks are subject to a maximum fine of $5,000 and/or 6 months in jail.
The parks suggest that, “To enjoy fireworks, consider attending a fireworks show in a neighboring community.”