Celebrate the red, white and blue
Carol Feineman
» More from Carol Feineman
9:31 a.m. PT Jul 3, 2003
July 4 has been celebrated in full fanfare in Nevada County for more than 100 years. This Friday should be no different.
Representatives from the Nevada City and Grass Valley-Nevada County chambers of commerce and the Grass Valley Downtown Association have spent the last four months planning the parade (which is in downtown Grass Valley this year) and the annual day-long celebration at the Nevada County Fairgrounds.
This year's 11 a.m. parade will feature more than 100 entries with the theme, "We, the People."
The Nevada County Concert Band performs one hour before the parade at the Wells Fargo parking lot on the corner of Mill and Neal streets which is when die-hard parade fans begin to stake out their favorite viewing spots.
The parade route begins at the corner of South Auburn and Main streets and travels to Mill, Neal and Church streets, ending at Chapel Street.
The fairgrounds celebration includes entertainment, craft booths, food booths and children's activities. Opening at 9 a.m., the festivities conclude with a 9:30 p.m. fireworks show.
Free parking for the parade only will be at the Nevada County Government Building off Highway 49 in Nevada City; a complimentary shuttle service to and from the parade location will run from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
See the special Fourth of July 16-page tab in today's The Union for a complete look at Nevada County's public celebrations.
Similar Fourth of July activities sponsored by the Auburn Area Chamber of Commerce will be held just about a half hour's drive from Grass Valley.
From 7 a.m. to noon, Old Town Auburn merchants will sponsor a pancake breakfast and youth games on Maple Street. Call 823-3836 for more details.
The fifth annual Auburn Family 4th kicks off at 1 p.m. with the Little Miss and Little Mister Firecracker Pageant at the Gold Country Fairgrounds (1273 High St.), followed by the annual 3 p.m. "Salute to the Troops" parade through downtown Auburn.
The parade route starts at upper Lincoln Way and continues on Central Square and High Street, finishing at the fairgrounds.
Music and activities at the Auburn fairgrounds are from
4 p.m. until the fireworks finale at 9:40 p.m. Fairgrounds entertainment includes Stardust Cowboys, Dr. Bach's Jazz Practitioners, the Fred Morgan Big Band and the Sierra Nevada Winds Orchestra. Pony rides, climbing walls, bounce houses and gyro rides will be provided for children.
Area service clubs will sell food and beverages at the fairgrounds. Spectators are encouraged to bring picnics, blankets and chairs.
Parking is free; all the activities are free.
Call the Chamber of Commerce at 885-5616 for more information.
KNOW & GO
WHAT: July 4th activities
WHEN: Parade at 11 a.m. All-day celebration from 9 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. fireworks display
WHERE: Grass Valley downtown for parade and all-day celebration at Nevada County Fairgrounds, 11228 McCourtney Road, Grass Valley
ADMISSION: Free for parade. $8 for adults and free for children under 12 for the fairgrounds celebration. Fairgrounds parking is $3.
INFORMATION: Grass Valley Downtown Association at 272-8315 or the Grass Valley-Nevada County Chamber of Commerce at 273-4667
