4TH OF JULY
display, patriotic entertainment, family water challenges and hot dog, watermelon and pie eating contests.
In the water challenge, parents can figure on getting wet as their kids try to toss water balloons into baskets fixed atop helmets the parents are wearing.
In the eating contests, kids and adults will be split into different classifications for each of the three food categories.
Food will be available for purchase from vendors, and music will be provided by DJ Goist.
The party also includes giant water slide and a splash zone where the people can cool off in the spray emitted by a Yuma Fire Department water cannon. And if kids need yet another way to cool off, the party will feature a wet as well as a dry jumper.
A patriotic speech by Yuma Mayor Doug Nicholls will precede the fireworks display.
Admission is $1 per person, with youngsters 3 and under getting in for free. The public can bring chairs, blankets, towels and pop-up awnings, but no food, drinks or coolers will be allowed through the gate.
Organizers ask that everyone bring a non-perishable food item for donation to the Yuma Community Food Bank.
San Luis
The San Luis 4th of July Freedom Celebration is always a favorite among residents of south Yuma County, and Wednesday’s celebration should appeal to fans of Spanish-language rock, in particular.
The celebration will feature Grupo Aruno, a rock and pop tribute band from Mexicali, Baja California; Grupo Mitosis, a Spanish rock band from San Luis Rio Colorado, and Monoplasma, a duo formed by Grammy-winning guitarist Cesar Lopez, formerly of Mana, and singer-songwriter of Hector Geronimo, of the alternative rock band Moebio.
The closing musical act at 10:45 p.m. will be a combo performance by Lopez; Maurico Claveria, formerly of the Chilean band La Ley, and Jorge Guevara, of the Mexican bands Caos and Elefante.
Grupo Aruno will play beginning at 7 p.m., followed by Grupo Mitosis at 8:30, after which Monoplama will perform from 9:45 until the 10 p.m. fireworks display.
“They’re legendary musicians, and they’ll put on a great show for the fans,” said Jesus Meza, the city’s assistant parks and recreation director.
Joe Orduno Park, located at Main Street and Juan Sanchez Boulevard, again hosts the celebration, with gates opening at 6 p.m. Admission is free.
Attractions for family enjoyment include water slides, a rock climbing wall, obstacle courses and trackless train. Dozens of food vendors will work the event.
“We’re looking at anywhere from 15,000 to 20,000” people to attend, Meza said. “It’s going to be a safe and fun family event. There will be a lot of great entertainment.”
No pets, ice chests or food will be allowed into the park, although people can bring chairs. As in Yuma, organizers of the San Luis party are accepting nonperishable food items for the food bank.
Every year since 2012, planners of Somerton’s Fourth of July set out to stage the world’s largest water balloon fight, as documented by the Guiness Book of World Records.
They haven’t set the mark yet, but that doesn’t stop them from trying. And they’ll try again Wednesday at the celebration at Council Avenue Park, 801 N. Council Ave.
“Every year we try to add more water balloons (for the fight),” said Angelica Roldan, the city of Somerton’s special events coordinator. “Last year we had 54,000, and this year we are adding 2,000 more.”
The celebration, free to the public, begins at 7 p.m. and continues to 11 p.m.
The opening music act is Checker’d Past, a Yuma band whose genre is ‘80s music. The group played at last year’s Somerton celebration also.
“People really like Checker’d Past,” said Roldan. “They’ll open at 7:30 p.m.
Fireworks will begin at 9:15 p.m., followed at 9:30 p.m. by the closing music performance by Metalachi, a Los Angeles band that fuses mariachi and heavy metal music. Metalachi will play through to the end of the celebration.
This will be the second year a patriotic costume contest is part of the program. A cash prize will be paid out to the person picked by judges as wearing the costume or clothing that best reflects the Fourth of July.
Another competition will be a watermelon eating contest with categories for children and adults.
The party also will feature water slides, a kids zone and beer garden, and will bring together 30 food vendors, Roldan said.
“We’re just inviting everyone to our event, (which is) growing every year.”
Last year’s celebration attracted a crowd of about 10,000, and organizers expect to top that number on Wednesday, she said.
Wellton
Wellton’s Fourth of July celebration begins at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at Butterfield Park, 10234 Dome St. Fireworks will start at 8:45 p.m.
The free event will also feature music, watermelon servings, food and game.
Prior to activities at the park, the town will open the N.D. and Katie Kline Pool to free admission from 1 to 5 p.m. The pool is located at 29318 Bakersfield Ave.
Paradise Casino
Paradise Casino, located at 450 Quechan Drive in Winterhaven, will have its annual early Independence Day celebration. It begins at 7 p.m. on Tuesday.
The celebration features children’s games, plus free popcorn, cotton candy, snow cones and soda pop. Fireworks start at 9:30 p.m.
Cocopah Casino
The Cocopah Casino Fourth of July community event takes place 6 to 10 p.m. Wednesday on the casino events lawn, 15318 S. Avenue B. Admission is free.
Music will be provided
Cocopah Speedway
The fireworks at Cocopah Casino will be visible to people attending Night of Destruction event at nearby Cocopah Speedway, located at County 15th Street and Highway 95.
The event features a demolition derby and waterless boat racing.
Gates open at 5 p.m., with entertainment getting underway at 7 p.m. Admission is $10, with children 12 and under let in for free.
Independence Day Flag Raising Ceremony
The Yuma Armed Force Park, 291 Gila St., will be the site of the annual Fourth of July Flag Raising Ceremony, hosted by the Caballeros de Yuma to honor the soldiers and Marines assigned to the area’s bases.
The ceremony takes place from 7 to 9 a.m.