Fourth of July festivities Fourth of July festivities (July 03, 2002)

From barbecues to baseball, there's plenty to do on the holiday

By Jane Knoerle

Almanac Staff Writer

The Fourth of July falls on a Thursday this year, so that means not only a glorious Fourth but, for many, four glorious days to enjoy family fun, back-yard barbecues, concerts, and a carnival, as well as the traditional parades, fireworks, and rodeo. Menlo Park and surrounding communities have planned plenty of activities for fun in the sun.
Menlo Park parade

Tie red, white and blue streamers on the bikes, dress up the dog, and join the Fourth of July parade along Santa Cruz Avenue downtown, ending at Burgess Park, where there will be a July 4 festival. Assemble at the Wells Fargo Bank parking lot at Santa Cruz Avenue and Chestnut Street at 10:30 a.m. The parade starts promptly at 10:45 a.m.
Menlo Park celebration

The celebration opens at 11 a.m. at Burgess Park. There will be a self-guided art project in memory of September 11. Primary Colors will perform on the stage from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., with the Raging Grannies entertaining in the park from 11 a.m. to noon. A watermelon seed-spitting contest begins at 11:30 a.m. in Burgess Field, with a potato-sack race at 1:30 p.m.

A fee of $5 each gives visitors unlimited access to a rock-climbing wall, arts and crafts activities, a giant slide, and the swimming pool at Burgess Park from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Food booths will offer Cajun food, hot dogs and hamburgers, pizza and ice cream for sale, or bring your own picnic. The annual Little League game at Burgess Field starts at 10 a.m.
Woodside Junior Rodeo

This will be the 52nd year for the annual Nor-Cal Junior Rodeo to be held at the Mounted Patrol Grounds, 521 Kings Mountain Road, Woodside. Gates open at 8 a.m., with main events beginning around noon. Contestants, ages 6 to 18, will compete in traditional rodeo events, such as calf-roping and riding, steer riding, pole bending, and barrel racing.

A pig scramble starts at 1:30. Food, from breakfast to barbecue, will be available. Tickets at the gate are $12 for adults, $6 for children under 18. Children 5 and under are admitted free.

A pre-rodeo barbecue and dance, open to the public, will be held on July 3 at the patrol grounds, beginning with no-host cocktails at 6 p.m. and dinner at 7. The California Cowboys Band will play for dancing. Dinner and dancing is $18 for adults; $6 for children; dancing only is $10.
Redwood City

Redwood City's 63rd annual Fourth of July parade, the granddaddy of them all, begins at 10:30 a.m. at 521 Brewster Ave. on a 1.3 mile route in downtown Redwood City. The annual parade attracts around 150,000 spectators, so come early to grab a space.

A Fourth of July festival featuring arts and crafts, "Go For It" car show, bands, entertainment and food booths will be held on Broadway immediately after the parade.

A fireworks display will be held at 9:30 p.m. from the Port of Redwood City.

The Woodside Terrace Kiwanis A.M. Club is sponsoring a carnival with rides, food and drinks Thursday, July 4, through Sunday, July 7. The carnival opens at 1 p.m. Thursday and 10 a.m. the following days. Closing time is 11 p.m. The carnival is located behind Sequoia Station at Middlefield Road at Winslow in Redwood City. All proceeds to support scholarships and charities that benefit Redwood City residents.

The San Mateo County History Museum will be open on the 4th with arts and crafts, a "battle of the bands" between UC Berkeley, Stanford and UC Davis marching bands, and a visit from Miss California. The museum is located at 777 Hamilton St., Redwood City. For more information call 299-0104.
Stanford

Despite its financial woes, the San Jose Symphony will perform its annual concert with fireworks Wednesday, July 3, at Frost Amphiteatre, Stanford University. The gates open at 5:30 p.m. for picnicking; the concert begins at 7:30 p.m.

The program, presented by Stanford Lively Arts, will include the "Star Spangled Banner, "American Salute" by Morton Gould, "Porgy and Bess: A Symphonic Picture" by George Gershwin, and selections from "West Side Story" by Leonard Bernstein. "Stars and Stripes Forever" will send up the fireworks.

Food and beverages will be for sale close to the entrance gates. Tickets are $35 for chair seating; $30 lawn seating; half price for youths under 15. For more information call the Stanford Ticket Office, 725-2787.
Palo Alto

It promises to be a scorcher at the 21st annual Summer Festival & Chili Cook-off to be held July 4, noon to 5 p.m. at Mitchell Park, 600 East Meadow Drive, Palo Alto. The cook-off is sponsored by the Palo Alto Recreation Department. Admission is free, but there is a nominal charge for a chili-tasting kit.

The Palo Alto Run Club is sponsoring a 5-mile loop race in the Baylands, starting at 8:30 a.m. July 4 at the eastern end of San Antonio Road in Mountain View. Registration is $5; $2 for members. For more information, call 855-9475.