Though you may have to travel to see an aerial fireworks show this Fourth of July, there will still be an explosion of Independence Day festivities right here on the Peninsula to get you in a patriotic frame of mind.
The city of Monterey's 24th annual Fourth of July "Big Little Backyard Barbecue and Entertainment Extravaganza" will take place Monday from 11a.m. to 5p.m. on the historic grounds of Colton Hall on Pacific Street.
This admission-free and alcohol-free event will include activities for the whole family, from carnival booths and games to face painting, balloon artists and bounce houses. Attendants are invited to pack a picnic lunch or buy barbecue-style foods and treats from local nonprofit vendors.
Live entertainment will be hosted by Candy James of KWAV 97FM and Hunter Finell of KION 46 TV. Lee Durley of MAGIC 63 will sing the National Anthem.
The Monterey Community Band will kick off the live musical performances, followed by Papa Doo Run Run.
Billed as the quintessential California band, Papa Doo Run Run performed and recorded with members of the Beach Boys for two decades, as well as performed as the Celebrity House Band at Disneyland for 15 years.
Next, Shane Dwight should rock the lawn party with the genre-busting music that draws from blues, alt-country, Americana, R&B and rock 'n' roll.
Winner of the 2002
Monterey Blues Festival Battle of the Bands, Dwight has released several CDs, performed at shows throughout the U.S., Canada and Mexico, and received airplay on hundreds of radio stations worldwide.
The closing act will be Pop Fiction, an eight-piece party band that performs renditions of hits throughout the decades from artists as varied as Donna Summer, The B-52s, AC/DC, Lady Gaga and The Black-Eyed Peas.
Nearby, the Monterey State Historic Park Association will celebrate the holiday by turning the calendar back to another era at the Cooper-Molera Adobe on Polk Street.
Visitors can travel in time to discover what life was like in the 1840s, with Californio and early-American activities.
Volunteers will be dressed in 19th-century costume, re-enacting historical activities from blacksmithing to dancing the fandango.
There will be an old-fashioned lemonade stand as well as the opportunity to play 19th-century games, make ropes or try your hand at leather stamping.
Activities will take place from 11a.m.-3p.m.; Admission is $3 for adults, $2 for children 6 -17, with children 5 and under free. All proceeds go to Monterey State Historic Park. For more info, call 649-7136.
Also in downtown Monterey, the Monterey Plaza Hotel & Spa on Cannery Row has planned a Fourth of July street fair on the Upper Terrace.
This admission-free festival includes face painting, balloon making, tarot reading, arts and crafts, DJ music and a tasty barbecue prepared by the Monterey Plaza's award-winning chef.
Live rockin' country western music will be played by Eight Second Ride from noon-4p.m.
The Pacific Grove Chamber of Commerce will combine history with a party-like atmosphere for their annual Fourth of July Hometown Celebration, which will take place from 11a.m. to 2p.m. at Caledonia Park's Tommy Stillwell Court, located behind the Post Office.
In celebration of the 235th anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence, the Pacific Grove Rotary Club will present a dramatic reading of the Declaration of Independence, with local actors playing the parts of Benjamin Franklin (Ron Cohan), Thomas Jefferson (Keith Decker) and John Adams (Mitchell Davis).
An introduction to the reading will be given by Dr. Richard Kezirian, chairman of the Monterey Peninsula College History Department.
A barbecue lunch will be offered, which includes a Grove Market half chicken or hot dogs, baked beans, garlic bread, salad and dessert for $10 a plate ($5 for a kid's plate).
There will also be complimentary games, bounce houses, free popcorn and free snow cones available for the kids.
Live music will be performed by Firefly, a classic rock band from Pacific Grove. The band's dance rock repertoire spans three decades and includes hits from Van Morrison, the Doobie Brothers and James Brown.
The day's festivities will include a special ceremony honoring veterans.
Carmel's annual Independence Day Celebration will take place from noon to 4p.m. at Devendorf Park on the corner of Ocean Avenue and Junipero Street.
Cheeky Spanks, one of the longest-running classic rock bands in the area, will play favorite songs from the 1960s, '70s and '80s. Lead singer Jill Childers will even sing the National Anthem.
Family-friendly activities include a sack race, pie-eating contest and bubble gum-blowing contest for kids, as well as hotdogs, watermelon, cookies and ice cream offered by local community groups in exchange for a donation. Everyone is encouraged to bring blankets, chairs and picnic lunches.
An old-fashioned Fourth of July celebration in Spreckels will get a running start with a 1-mile race for kids under 12 at 8:30a.m. and a 10K run for everyone at 9a.m.
There will be a grand parade of children along Third Street beginning at noon. Festivities include a fireman's muster, craft fair, children's activities, food, drinks and live music.
This year's event will feature a program titled "Main Street Classics" performed by The Monterey Bay Symphony at Spreckels Memorial Park from 10-11a.m.
The 13-member brass ensemble, augmented by two drummers and conducted by music director Dr. Carl Christensen, will play songs including the stirring "Fanfare for the Common Man" by Aaron Copland; the "Stars and Stripes Forever" and "Liberty Bell" marches of John Philip Sousa; the "Armed Forces Salute, a medley of service themes; the Grand March from Verdi's "Aida;" the traditional American favorite "When Johnny Comes Marching Home;" Handel's "Music for the Royal Fireworks;" and the gospel standard "Down by the Riverside."
If your Fourth of July celebration just doesn't seem complete without the symbolic bombs bursting in air, you may have to take a little drive to find what you're looking for.
Nearby areas hosting public aerial firework shows this year include the city of Hollister at Marguerite Maze Middle School; the city of Gilroy at Gilroy High School; Scotts Valley at Sky Park; and Morgan Hill at Edmundson Community Park.
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