Hometown entertainment on July 4th
by Pam Jung, pamj@theunion.com
» More from Pam Jung
12:01 a.m. PT Jun 29, 2006
A classic hometown parade is on tap to celebrate the 4th, and this year it is taking place in Nevada City (which alternates years with Grass Valley).
Starting at 11 a.m., grand marshalls John Darlington and Carl Bryan (both Nevada County Superior Court judges) will start the parade, which this year is themed "And Justice For All." More than 100 entries will dance, sing, drive and march by a crowd of several thousand. Says the Nevada City Chamber of Commerce, "Come early with your lawn chairs to stake out a good vantage point along Broad Street." If that spot turns out to be on lower Broad Street, you'll be treated to a pre-parade concert by the Nevada County Concert Band in front of Broad Street Furnishings.
An old favorite, the Ophir Prison Marching Kazoo Band, will liven things up with its shenanigans. The Nevada Union High School Band is one band that will march. Representing Grass Valley's Center for the Arts, more than a dozen of its auxiliary Grandes Dames will march, as well as some cast members from "Fiddler on the Roof," who will sing to the crowd. Grandmothers for Peace is a new entry.
Following the parade, the day's celebration moves to Grass Valley, where, at the Nevada County Fairgrounds, all sorts of entertainment is planned, including fireworks at 9:30 p.m.
Call 273-4667, 265-2592 (or 800-655-6569 for out-of-towners) for information, or go online at either www.grassvalleychamber.com. or www.nevadacitychamber.com.
The day's schedule:
10 a.m. Pre-parade concert
11 a.m. Parade starts in downtown Nevada City, top of Broad Street
4 p.m. Entertainment begins at the Nevada County Fairgrounds, McCourtney Road, Grass Valley (gates open at 3 p.m.). Admission is $8 for adults; children 12 and under are admitted free. Parking is $3. No alcohol, glass, pets, barbecues or personal fireworks may be brought onto the fairgrounds.
On Pine Tree Stage
4 p.m. Ophir Prison Marching Kazoo Band
5:15 p.m. Parade Awards
5:30 p.m. Tommyknocker Cloggers
6 p.m. Ragged but Right
7:30 p.m. Blue Suede (Elvis & Roy Orbison tribute) (also encore
performance after fireworks)
9:30 p.m. Aerial Fireworks
On Dance Pad
4-9 p.m. Gold Country Line Dance
On the Green
4-9 p.m. Bounce House, Kids Entertainment
