In celebration of our nation’s founding, communities throughout the area will be hosting a variety of Independence Day activities for the entire family.
Holbrook
The annual Holbrook Volunteer Fire Department Barbeque and Fireworks will be taking place on Wednesday, July 4. The barbecue will begin at 11 a.m. at Fire Station No. 3 on the mesa, and will run through 3 p.m. or until the meat is gone. Tickets are $5 for children and $10 for adults, and may be purchased at the door. The annual fireworks show will be set once again at the entrance of the Navajo County Complex, and will begin after dusk.
Winslow
The 2018 Northeast Arizona Freedom Fun Festival will be held at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, July 4, at the City of Winslow Hayden Walton Sports Complex/Vargas Field Ramada. The kids fun and game booths will be open from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. Tickets for the games will be available for purchase and all are welcome to attend.
Also scheduled for the event is the Children’s Patriotic Parade beginning at 10 a.m. as well as raffles and door prizes throughout the day.
The City of Winslow also hosts one of the largest fireworks displays in Northern Arizona. That show is set to begin at 8:30 p.m. at the Emil Nasser Football Stadium on Colorado Avenue. Admission to the show is free, but donations for next year’s show will be accepted.
Joseph City
The annual Joseph City Fourth of July celebration will feature great hometown fun, including a patriotic parade that will head down Main Street beginning at 8 a.m. on Wednesday, July 4, traveling from McLaws Avenue and ending at Tanner Park. A flag raising ceremony will follow at Tanner Park.
From 9 to 11 a.m. there will be kids games at Tanner Park, a volleyball tournament is set for 9 a.m. and a horseshoe tournament at 10 a.m. At 11 a.m. burgers and hot dogs will be on the grill and served with chips, a cookie and a drink for $6 and $5 per plate.
At 1 p.m. you can work off some of that great food or at least enjoy watching the fun at a three-on-three basketball tournament at Joseph City High School.
Taylor
With the Fourth of July falling midweek this year, the annual Town of Taylor events begin Friday, June 29, and continue through Monday, July 2. The festivities will kick off with cowboy poetry and country music at 7 p.m. on Friday, June 29, at the Taylor Rodeo Park.
Then the fun continues bright and early on Saturday, June 30, with the firing of the anvil parade. The parade begins at 5 a.m. and the Jennings Band will be accompanying the parade playing patriotic music in celebration of Independence Day.
All vehicles wishing to follow the procession must fill out a parade waiver form. The route will back to its original route beginning on Center Street at the Taylor ball fields continuing down center to go north on 200 Street East to Cattle Lane then over to Paper Mill Road.
The anvil will then be fired at Freeman Park on Paper Mill Road and proceed over to 700 Street West down to the LDS Stake Center located on West Willow Lane and then back to the ball fields where the procession began.
At 6 a.m., the Taylor July Fourth Celebration Run takes place at the Taylor Airport, located at 1020 Airport Road in Taylor. The run is a two-mile/10K run and costs $20 to register and includes a T-shirt.
There will be a patriotic program at 10 a.m. at the Taylor Stake Center, located at 309 W. Willow Lane. This year’s stump speaker is Paul Hatch and the keynote speaker will be Roy Lynn Brimhall.
From 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. the Taylor-Shumway Heritage Foundation will offer tours at the historic Standiford Home on Main Street, the Hancock Log Cabin on Willow Lane, the Taylor Museum on Main Street and the Pioneer Museum on East Center Street.
The remainder of Saturday’s events will occur at the Taylor Rodeo Park.
* From 11 am. to 5 p.m., arts and crafts.
* From 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Food vendors.
* At 7 p.m. the Taylor Night Rodeo begins with a $10 admission. Kids under 7 years old are free.
* At 9 p.m. is the fireworks show.
* At 9:30 p.m. a dance will be held at the Pavilion.
On Monday, July 2, the historic Hancock Log Cabin will be open again for tours and hayrides, with the first hayride begins at 5:30 p.m. There will be live music and a delicious pioneer meal of beans and cornbread. There is no charge for the event, but donations are greatly appreciated.
For more information, to purchase rodeo tickets, register for the anvil parade or the run please visit www.tayloraz.org.
