Fourth of July Plans Are Crackling in the Yakima Valley

While you're busy digesting all the fun from the June 28 Bite of Yakima, the summer is sneaking past you.

That's right: Stand up straight, soldier, the Fourth of July is this weekend.

And because, yes, this is America, you'll have plenty of ways to exercise your freedom of choice when it comes to where — and how — you celebrate this year.

Here are a few of the most popular celebrations around here:

The Yakima Fourth of July Celebration at State Fair Park is the most extensive, and it features the most spectacular fireworks display. (Trust us: We know the fireworks show will be good — it's sponsored by our sister station, 107.3 KFFM).

The fun starts on the Fourth (which falls on a Friday this year) and continues all weekend with a carnival, music, food booths, children's activities and a beer garden at State Fair Park, 1301 S. Fair Ave. Admission is free.

The event's open to the public from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. Carnival hours are 5-10 p.m. Saturday, 1-10 p.m. Sunday. The beer garden will serve adults from noon until 10 p.m. Friday, but you can buy food until 11:30 p.m.

Organizers will set off Friday night's Fourth of July fireworks show at 11 p.m., and KFFM will play patriotic music that's synched to the show. (So listen in while you're watching to make sure you get the full effect.)

Speaking of music, here's the lineup on the park's stage:

• 12:15-1:45 — Pastel Motel plays indie pop.
• 3:15-4:30 — Powerline plays classic rock.
• 4:50-6:10 — Shoot Jake plays the blues.
• 6:30-7:55 — Charles Street Messengers delivers soul and funk.
• 8:15-9:45 — The Cold Hard Cash Show covers Johnny Cash classics.

And speaking of patriotism, from 2-3 p.m. the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services will stage a naturalization ceremony during which 170 new American citizens will take the oath of allegiance. Former U.S. Rep. Sid Morrison is the guest speaker.

If you don't feel like celebrating at the fairgrounds, how about one of these venues?

Prosser's putting together an old-fashioned Fourth of July, complete with a kids parade, ice cream, hot dogs, music, cars, children's activities — oh, and of course fireworks.

Selah's Independence Day Festival is July 3-4 at Carlon Park and includes a pancake breakfast, a 5K fun run, music and more fireworks at Selah High School's football stadium, 801 N. First St.

In Toppenish, plans include a downtown Wild West parade starting at 11 a.m. on the Fourth, and a two-day rodeo at the Toppenish Rodeo Grounds, 600 S. Division St. If you haven't been before, take Exit 58 off Interstate 82 and head west on State Route 223 (which is also Chambers Road), bear right onto State Route 22, then right onto Division Road. Continue on to South Division Street.

Zillah's going the old-fashioned route, too. Food and fun starts at 6 p.m. on the Fourth at Stewart Park, 107 First Ave., and the fireworks take off at dusk. The Lions Club is cooking, but you can bring your own if you'd prefer. Call 509-829-5151 for more details.

Don't feel like traveling? Hey, you can always fire up your own grill and set off a few sparklers in your backyard. You might even want to play with some a little louder, if conditions — and local rules — allow.

Though a few municipalities around the area allow limited fireworks, they're banned in all unincorporated areas of Yakima County.

But do your homework and read our post with specific town-by-town rules for local fireworks.