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Fun, food ... and fireworks! - Times-Standard
* FORTUNA * July 3 *Celebrate Independence Day a little early in Friendly Fortuna with some family fun, a barbecue, live music and fireworks. The fun starts at 5:30 p.m. and ends at 10:30 p.m. on Wednesday, in Newburg Park. FREE
A family barbecue from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. will help raise funds to cover the cost of the fireworks show and kids' activities. This year's menu will include tender seasoned tri-tip or barbecued chicken plates with potato salad, watermelon, corn on the cob and a dinner roll. Dinner is $10 for adults and $5 for a child's plate (for those under 12) with a hot dog, chips, watermelon and a cookie.
Hot chocolate, coffee, chips, candy and other snacks will also be available for purchase through the end of the fireworks show at the Babe Ruth Snack Shack.
* BENBOW * July 4 *The Garberville-Redway Chamber of Commerce plans a Fourth of July fireworks display at Benbow Lake State Park.
* FERNDALE * July 4 *Festivities start Thursday morning, with the Ferndale Volunteer Firefighters celebrating independence with an old-fashioned treat for the kids: a free ride on a gleaming fire engine, from 10 a.m. to noon (call 786-9515 for information). The Ferndale Chamber of Commerce organizes the annual Fourth of July Parade down Main Street starting at noon, with participants lining up on Fifth Street starting at 10 a.m.
The celebration continues with the Ferndale Rotary Club cooking up an Independence Day picnic after the parade. Hot dogs or burgers (including a veggie burger option), potato salad, beans and Humboldt Creamery ice cream with chocolate syrup are included; a hot dog meal is $4 and a burger meal is $6.
Then head over to the Humboldt County Fairgrounds for the evening festival. The Bear River Casino organizes the fireworks display for the family to watch from the grandstands, but there's plenty to do before dark. Gates open at 5 p.m. with food vendors, beer and other beverages, a bounce house for the kids and entertainment before the fireworks show. There's no admission charge; parking is $5.
* Fern Cottage * July 6 *From 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday, the “Star Spangled Sixth” features the Eureka Symphony's brass ensemble in a patriotic brass band concert at Fern Cottage. Presented by the Eureka Symphony and Fern Cottage, the Star Spangled Sixth includes an ice cream social, tours of the historic home and all cottage grounds open for viewing.
* EUREKA * July 4 *Eureka Main Street hosts its annual Fourth of July Festival from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday in Old Town. The festival spans six city blocks along Second Street. Vendor booths will feature a wide variety of foods, crafts, commercial items, fine art, and community groups getting the word out about their organizations. There will be classic cars, kids' activities, a petting zoo, fire trucks, bounce house, horse and carriage rides, wood wars, the Johnston Amusement Carnival (at the foot of D Street) and much more.
A fireworks show is planned to start over Humboldt Bay at 10 p.m. Donations are still being sought for the fireworks show. Make direct contributions to City of Eureka, 531 K St., Eureka, CA, 95501, Attention: Suzanne. For more information on the festival, call Eureka Main Street at 442-9054.
ARCATA * July 4 *The 4th of July Jubilee Festival on the Arcata Plaza begins at 10 a.m. and ends at 6 p.m. Thursday. It is the oldest festival to be held on the Arcata Plaza and is operated by the Arcata Chamber of Commerce.
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Look for Humboldt GOP in the Ferndale Parade, and at the Fourth of July festivities in Old Town, Eureka.
