Mark your calendar
Carol Feineman
» More from Carol Feineman
9:23 a.m. PT Jun 26, 2003
The July 4 holiday kicks off a day early locally with the annual "Happy Birthday, USA" celebration, which is also the last concert of the Music in the Mountains' Summer Festival of Classics.
Patriotic songs and marches will be featured at the July 3 outdoor concert, which begins at 7:30 p.m. Gates open at 6 p.m. at the Nevada County Fairgrounds.
Admission is $18 at the door, $16 if purchased in advance and free for youth under 18. Ticket outlets are the Nevada City Postal Company, The Union newspaper, Odyssey Books, The Book Seller, Mike's Alta Sierra Market, Pleasant Valley Pharmacy Lake Wildwood and at the gate.
The fairgrounds are at 11228 McCourtney Road, Grass Valley.
Call 265-6124 or (800) 218-2188 for more information.
The annual Fourth of July parade, which has alternated for the past century between the downtowns of Grass Valley and Nevada City, will be in Grass Valley this year.
The 11 a.m. parade, which traditionally attracts several thousand spectators, will feature more than 100 entries with the theme "We, the People."
The Nevada County Concert Band will again perform for parade spectators one hour before the parade. Also returning to the parade is the zany Ophir Prison Marching Kazoo Band, which has entertained at Nevada City and Grass Valley events since 1971.
The kazoo band will also appear at the fairgrounds' daylong celebration at the Nevada County Fairgrounds. Gates open at 9 a.m. Festivities include live music, craft booths, food booths and children's activities. The celebration concludes with a 9:30 p.m. fireworks show. Admission is $8 for adults and free for children under 12. Parking is $3.
Free parking for the parade only will be at the Nevada County Government Building off Highway 49 in Nevada City. Free parade shuttle service between the Government Building and the parade location will be provided from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The Fourth of July celebration is co-sponsored by the Nevada City and Grass Valley-Nevada County chambers of commerce and the Grass Valley Downtown Association.
Call the association at 272-8315 or the Grass Valley-Nevada County chamber at 273-4667 for more details.
For those who are still in a party mode the day after July 4, the second annual MotherLode Reunion Music Fest & Arts Faire will be at Pioneer Park in Nevada City.
Sixteen bands, playing Americana to jazz to good old rock 'n' roll, will be featured between noon and dark. Performers include the Bodhi Busick Band, the Wagon & Woods Band and the Buddy Craig Band. In addition, there will be children's activities and an arts fair and vendors.
Admission is $10 in advance, $12 at the gate, and free for children 12 and under. Tickets are at Foggy Mountain Music, Record Connection, Odyssey Books, Herb Shop Records and the Nevada City Chamber of Commerce.
Call 273-9297 or check out www.motherlodereunion.org for any questions.
