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Celebrating Independence Day
Communities across Arizona will celebrate the Fourth of July with fireworks, concerts, old fashioned festivals and parades. Here’s your guide to celebrations in your area. All events take place on July 4.

Ahwatukee foothills
Food, crafts, games, entertainment, fireworks. Mountain Vista Park. 480-753-7676.

Ajo Parade, followed by a festival.
Fireworks at 8:30 p.m. Plaza Park. 520-387-7742.

Bisbee Ruthless Run from Continental Divide through Tombstone Canyon. Parade, games, food, mining contests, coaster races down the canyon, fireworks. 520-432-6000.

Chandler Classic car show, live music, rides, food. Fireworks at 9:30 p.m. Tumbleweed Park. 480-782-2735. Also, family fun and cookout, and fireworks at Rawhide Wild West Town. 480-502-5600.

Duncan Parade
breakfast in the park, fireworks. 928-359-2791.

Fountain hills
Celebration in Fountain Park at 5 p.m. 480-837-1654.

Flagstaff
Old fashioned community parade featuring vintage vehicles, 10 a.m. 800-842-7293.

Gilbert
Talent contest, live entertainment, food, inflatables. Fireworks at 9 p.m., music until 10:30 p.m. Mesquite High School. 480-503-6200

Glendale
Hometown 4th of July Celebration. Multiple stages of entertainment, family competitions, rides, food, fireworks. Glendale Community College. 623-930-2299.

Holbrook
Fireman’s Barbeque and Fireworks Display. Barbeque at 11 a.m., fireworks at dusk. 928-524-6558.

Mesa
Barbeque, dutch-oven biscuits, gold panning, wagon rides, fireworks. Rockin’ R Ranch. 480-832-1539.

Oatman
Sidewalk Egg Frying Challenge with prizes. Parade at 10 a.m. 928-768-7400.

Page
Crafts, games, parade, music. Fireworks at 8:45 p.m. over Wahweap Bay. City Park. 928-645-2741.

Payson
Celebration in the Park. Green Valley Park. 928-474-5242.

Peoria
All American Festival. Food, entertainment, games, rides, water activities, fireworks. 5 to 10 p.m. Peoria Sports Complex. 623-773-7198.

Phoenix
Fabulous Phoenix Fourth. Largest aerial fireworks display in the southwest, four stages of entertainment, carnival games and rides, historic military vehicle display. Steele Indian School Park. 602-534-FEST.

Pine
108th Army National Guard Band Concert. Pine Cultural Hall. 928-476-3547.

Prescott
Fireworks show and entertainment, 5 to 9 p.m. Pioneer Park. 928-777-1122.

Show low
White Mountain arm wrestling competition, festival, rides, food, live country music and fireworks. Village Arena Festival Grounds. 928-532-4140.

Sierra Vista
Pets and people parade at 8 a.m. 50-gun salute. Largest fireworks display in Cochise County. Veterans Memorial Park. 520-417-6960.

Springerville
Round Valley Rodeo. Parade, barbeque, fireworks. Round Valley Rodeo Grounds. 928-333-2123.

St. Johns
Fireworks and rubber duck race. Lyman Lake State Park. 928-337-4441.

Tempe
Tempe Town Lake Festival. Live music, Splash Zone, rides, inflatable kids village, games, fireworks. 480-350-5189.

Tucson
Fireworks, food, bike ride and performances by the Desert Cadillacs and Neon Prophet. Convention Center. 520-387-7742.

Wickenburg
Watermelon bust, games, fireworks. 520-684-5479.

Winslow
Parade, food, entertainment, fireworks at dusk. City Park. 928-289-2434.

Yuma
Flag Raising Ceremony. Includes color guard, firing party and patriotic music. Caballero Park. 928-373-5040. Evening fireworks display at Yuma County Fairgrounds. 928-726-4420.

Phoenix

1 Feline Fireworks Cat Show, Phoenix.
Purebreds and house pets strut their stuff. Adopt a cat or buy toys, beds and scratchers. El Zaribah Shrine Audito-rium, 552 N. 40th St. 602-684-5876.

july 8, 15, 22, 29 Sizzlin’ Summer Saturdays, Phoenix.
“The Heard is a Cool Place” and it’s free for kids this summer. Hands-on interactive exhibits, music and dance performances, children’s authors and book signings, free treats and souvenirs. Heard Museum, 2301 N. Central Ave. 602-252-8848, www.heard.org. 

july 14-August 5 New Works Festival, Phoenix.
This ninth annual festival features staged readings of three new plays and one new musical. “Circumstances” will be presented on July 14 and 15, followed by “Breathing Time” on July 21 and 22, and “Skin Deep” on July 28 and 29. The festival closes with the musical “The Journey” on August 4 and 5. Reservations are strongly recommended. Phoenix Theatre, 100 E. McDowell Rd. 602-254-2151

East Valley

July 14-16, August 11-13 Fort McDowell Yavapai Native American Arts Show, Scottsdale.
Visit with artists, watch demonstrations and cultural performances, and enjoy Native American food. Radisson Fort McDowell Resort, 2 miles east of Shea Boulevard on SR 87. 480-816-7162.

August 4 Mighty Mud Mania, Scottsdale.
Mud obstacle courses for kids, mud puddle pool for tots. Sandcastle building, water cannons and a swim. Chaparral Park, 5401 N. Hayden Rd. 480-312-2771, www.scottsdaleaz.gov.

August 5 Clown Day Celebration, Chandler.
The largest clown gathering in the southwest, in honor of National Clown Week. More than 100 clowns prance, parade and promenade down Rawhide’s Main Street. Free face painting and balloon sculpting for the kids. Rawhide Wild West Town, 5700 W. North Loop Rd. 480-502-5600, www.rawhide.com.

Southern Arizona

July 8 Ha:san Bak: Saguaro harvest Celebration, Vail.
Celebrate the iconic saguaro cactus during the summer harvest. With hands-on workshops and Tohono O’odham rain dancers. Colossal Cave Mountain Park. 520-647-7121, www.colossalcave.com.

July 15-16 Arizona Highland Celtic Festival, Flagstaff.
Bagpipes, kilts and the luck of the Irish. Continuous entertainment, athletics, dance, children’s activities and traditional food. Foxglenn Park, 4200 E. Butler Ave. 928-556-3161.

august 25 Hamburger Fry, Globe.
At Gila County Historical Museum. 928-425-7385, www.globemiamichamber.com.

August 1-6 Southwest Wings Birding & Nature Festival, Bisbee.
Lecture by birding expert Jon Dunn, birding and nature workshops and programs. Bat stalks, owl prowls, arts and crafts. Copper Queen Plaza. 520-432-3554, www.swwings.org.

August 1 Gold Room Winemaker Dinner, Tucson.
Five-course meal prepared by Chef Jamie West, showcasing five different wines. 520-297-1151, www.westwardlook.com.

August 5-6 August Fest, Elgin.
Grape-stomping contest to celebrate the harvest. Tractor-drawn vineyard tours, grape tasting and live music. Local restaurants provide food to complement the wines. Sonoita Vineyards. 520-455-5893, www.sonoitavineyards.com.

August 11-12  Vigilante Days, Tombstone.
Commemorate Tombstone’s unique heritage with reenactments, gunfight competitions, mock hangings and, of course, a chili cook-off. 520-457-3495, www.tombstone.org.

July 22-23, 29-30; August 12-13, 19-20 Peach Mania Festival, Willcox.
You pick tree-ripened peaches and apples. Peach ice cream, peach pie and an all-you-can-eat pancake breakfast. Apple Annie’s Orchard. 520-384-2084, www.appleannies.com.

Tucson’s Culinary Concert Series
Start your weekend right. On Saturdays from 10 a.m. to noon, experience local music combined with food demonstrations and sampling from the area’s finest restaurants and resorts. La Encantada Shopping Center, 2905 E. Skyline Dr. 520-299-3566

July 8 Music by Mood Swing, food by Bluepoint Kitchen & Bar.  

july 22 Music by Whistlin’ Dixie, food by Westin La Paloma.

August 12 Music by Pete Swan Quartet featuring American Idol’s Crystal Stark, food by Firebirds Rocky Mountain Grill.

August 26 Music by Jobert Steel Drum Gang, food by Westward Look Resort.

Northern Arizona

July 1-2 Hopi Festival of Arts & Culture, Flagstaff.
Meet Hopi masters and emerging artists, taste traditional foods, walk the nature trails with a guide and observe Hopi social dances. Museum of Northern Arizona. 928-774-5213.

July 8-9 Indian Art Market, Prescott.
Native American painters, potters, weavers and jewelers. Cultural presentations, arts and crafts demonstrations, musical performances. Sharlot Hall Museum, 415 W. Gurley. 928-445-3122, www.sharlot.org.

July 21 Mid-Summer Party and Crab Boil, Page.
Crab boil and live entertainment. Wahweap Marina. 928-645-2433.

July 22 Made in the Shade Beer Tasting Festival, Flagstaff.
Sample more than 100 microbrews from around the southwest, along with a variety of food and entertainment. Coconino County Fairgrounds. 928-779-1775, www.azbeer.com.

August 4-5 Eagar Daze, Eager.
Ice cream social, chili cook-off, mud mania, logging events, dog show, watermelon-eating contest, entertainment. Ramsey Park. 928-333-1639, www.eagar.com.

August 12-13 White Mountain Bluegrass Music Festival, Pinetop/ Lakeside.
Bluegrass bands from across the southwest perform. Jam sessions,family entertainment,  food. Festival grounds, Woodland Road. 928-367-4290, www.pinetoplakesidechamber.com.

July 28-august 13 Arizona Shakespeare Festival, Prescott. Taming of the Shrew set in the old west, and Julius Caesar is reimagined in 1930s Italy. Ruth Street Theater, 1050 N. Ruth St. 928-443-9220, www.azshakes.com.

August 12-13 Summer Fine Arts & Crafts Festival, Prescott.
Juried artists and artisans show with spinning, weaving and wood-turning demonstrations. Courthouse Plaza. 928-445-2510, www.mountainartistsguild.org.

august 17-19 Arizona Cowboy Poets Gathering, Prescott.
Working cowboys who compose, recite and sing about their lives and work will perform. Featuring old-time singing, cowboy yodeling, and traditional and contemporary cowboy poetry. Sharlot Hall Museum, 415 W. Gurley. 928-445-3122, www.sharlot.org.

August 18 Tina Malia, Sedona.
Accompanied by a five-piece band, Tina Malia weaves American folk music, Celtic modalities and Middle Eastern rhythms. Future Studios Live Performance Venue, 30 Hozoni Dr. 928-282-9139, www.futurestudios.org.

august 18-19 Cool Country Cruise-In & Route 66 Festival, Williams.
Classic car show with trophies for various classes. Battle of the bands, sock hop and more. 928-635-1418, www.williamsfestivals.com.

august 18-20 World’s Oldest Continuous Rodeo, Payson.
In its 122nd year, PRCA-sanctioned rodeo features bull-riding, calf-roping, barrel racing and other competitions. 928-474-4515, www.rimcountrychamber.com.

August 25 Bubbles & Bids, Flagstaff.
Vegas-style gaming, beer and wine tasting, hors d’oeuvres and musical entertainment and silent auction to benefit the Senior Corps Programs of Northern and Central Arizona. Radisson Woodlands Hotel, 1175 W. Route 66. 928-523-0530.

August 26 Prescott Fine Arts Association Auction, Prescott.
Barbeque dinner, music and dancing. Silent auction and raffles. Proceeds benefit Prescott Fine Arts Association scholarships and programs. Reservations required. Hassayampa Golf & Country Club. 928-445-3354.

Summer at the Zoo
Especially for summer, The Phoenix Zoo is holding special events to help you stay cool while enjoying one of the nation’s top zoos for kids. 455 N. Galvin Pkwy. 602-273-1341, www.phoenixzoo.org.

July 15 Winter in July.
Chill out at the zoo in 50 tons of snow. Animals will romp and enjoy chilly treats like ice blocks and bloodsicles. They’re not the only ones who get to play in the snow, but get there early. The event starts at 8 a.m., and snow doesn’t last long when it’s 110 degrees! 

july 7, 14, 21, 28; august 4 Starry Safari Friday Nights. Experience the zoo during the cooler evening hours. These special evening events include water play, up-close animal encounters and discount prices on zoo rides. Because some animals sleep at night, not all zoo trails will be open. Admission is only $3 ($2 for zoo members).

In Tucson...

July 8, 15, 22, 29; August 5, 12, 19, 26 Summer Saturday Evenings.
The Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum will also be open after hours — until 10 p.m. — this summer. Cat Canyon, the mountain lions and beavers will be especially active. Admission after 5 p.m. is only $5 ($2 for 12 and younger.  2021 N. Kinney Rd. 520-883-2702,  HYPERLINK "http://www.desertmuseum.org" www.desertmuseum.org.

Corny Festivals
Nothing says summer like the taste of fresh sweet corn. In both northern and southern Arizona, you can pick  your own, and be entertained in the process.

July 22-23 Sweet Corn Extravaganza, Willcox
Enjoy fresh-picked sweet corn, on-site roasted sweet corn and a you-pick ‘em vegetable garden. Apple Annie’s Orchard. 520-384-2084, www.appleannies.com.  

July 29 Young’s Farm Corn Festival, Dewey
Outdoor produce stands, craft show, hay rides, outdoor, barbeque, live  entertainment and, of course, corn. 928-632-7272,  www.youngsfarminc.com

Confirm information before making plans by calling the listed numbers. Information is published on a space-available basis. Send complete details by July 21 for the September/October issue. Information may be submitted online by going to aaa.com, then clicking on Highroads, and following the links to Calendar. Or, send information to Highroads Calendar, 3144 N. 7th Ave., Phoenix, AZ 85013; fax

602-241-2917; e-mail highroads@arizona.aaa.com. The activity calendar and advertisements for non-AAA approved facilities and products are placed as a service and do not imply AAA endorsement.

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