Local communities offer Fourth of July with flair

By Cherry Sokoloski
North Forty News

With July 4 on a Saturday this year, small towns in northern Larimer County will be hopping with holiday festivities.

There are traditional celebrations in Wellington and Red Feather Lakes, the annual garage sale in the Poudre Canyon and lots of events in Fort Collins.

Red Feather Lakes

This year, a celebrity writer will visit the village on July 4. Best-selling author C.J. Box has written 11 novels, including the Joe Pickett series. He has won numerous awards, and his short stories have been featured in America's Best Mystery Stories of 2006. His novels have been translated into 22 languages.

Box will preside over a book signing at the Mountain Crafts Gallery from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. He will talk about his books and his experiences as an author at the Fire Barn Meeting Room, 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. His visit is sponsored by the Red Feather Lakes Community Library.

Amanda Robinson will finish her reign as Red Feather Lakes Princess during the holiday weekend. She is the daughter of Steve and Connie Robinson and the granddaughter of Rick and Audrey Robinson, all of Red Feather Lakes. She will be a junior at Poudre High School this fall.

The traditional Fourth of July activities will get underway on July 3 with a special bingo session at 7 p.m. in the POA Building.

The popular Kids' Fishing Contest at Ramona Lake takes place Saturday morning. Registration for youngsters age 4 through 8 is at 8:30 a.m., with fishing to follow. Youth from 9 to 14 register at 10 a.m. Prizes will be awarded at 12:30 p.m. on the helipad behind the POA building.

The July 4 barbecue is planned for 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., served by youth from Morning Star Church. The annual parade follows at 2 p.m., and the fireworks show begins at dusk.

Sunday events begin with a pancake breakfast in the POA Building, 7:30 to 10:30 a.m. The general POA meeting is set for 3 p.m., when the new Red Feather Lakes Princess will be crowned. In the evening, the holiday will wrap up with a bingo session at 7 p.m. and the raffle drawing at 8 p.m.

Wellington

Wellington plans a full day of activities on July 4, with events at both Library Park and Centennial Park. The holiday swings into gear with a pancake breakfast at The Filling Station, 7 to 10 a.m. The parade on Cleveland Avenue follows at 10 a.m., going from Wellington Boulevard to Fifth Street.

During the day, there will be complimentary shuttle service between Library Park and Centennial Park.

At Library Park, the Family Fun Fest will offer activities between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. Those include food and craft booths, live entertainment, a Kidz' Zone with inflatables and games, and a cake/cookie walk. After all that fun, folks can cool off at the Town Board Ice Cream Social at the gazebo.

The Northern Plains Car and Truck Show, featuring dozens of vehicles in 10 different categories, will be held at Centennial Park from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Refreshments will be available at the show. Entry forms are available at Wellington Town Hall or at www.townofwellington.com/CAC. They must be turned in to town hall by July 3.

The day's finale is the fireworks show at dusk, about 9 p.m., near Eyestone Elementary. Folks are encouraged to bring their lawn chairs and enjoy the show.

For more information about Wellington's Fourth of July, call 568-3381.

Poudre Canyon

The annual Lower Poudre Canyon garage sale and cookout is set for July 3 through 5, at the Poudre Park Community Center located five miles up the Poudre Canyon Highway. More than 30 families will contribute treasures to the event, a fund-raiser for the local fire department and EMTs, as well as the Lower Poudre Canyon Association.

The cookout will include hotdogs, hamburgers and brats, plus homemade pies and cookies, ice cream and cold drinks and coffee. For more information, call Jan Gueswel at 484-3844.

Livermore

The Livermore Fire Protection District will host a public open house at Station 1, County Road 74E (Red Feather Lakes Road) on July 4 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. People will have a chance to meet their local firefighters and EMTs. In addition, there will be free blood pressure checks, fire demonstrations, activities for children and live music by the Singing Firefighters. Artwork and burgers will be available for sale. For more information, call 472-5592.

Fort Collins

Daytime fun in downtown Fort Collins, plus the traditional fireworks show in City Park, will make things festive on the Fourth of July. Events run from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Old Town Square and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Civic Center Park. A special performance by the Fort Collins Symphony takes place at 4 p.m. at Civic Center Park.

Old Town Square will feature a beer garden and live music by Archie Funker, the Delta Sonics and TBA. At Civic Center Park, entertainment includes a beer garden, arts and crafts vendors, a petting zoo and games for children. Besides the symphony, live music includes the Poudre River Irregulars and Mojomama. A children's pie-eating contest and a show by Mountain Kids Gymnastics round out the festivities.

Transfort will offer free bus rides to and from City Park for the fireworks show, which will begin about 9:30 p.m. Buses stop at the Downtown Transit Center and at Moby Arena from 5:30 to 10:30 p.m.

For more information, go to www.DowntownFortCollins.com.