Fourth of July festivities abound

Local Independence Day celebrations are on track despite recent poor air-quality conditions due to wild fires.

Crossroads Community Church is kicking off celebrations early with its fifth annual Independence Day Celebration Thursday at 445 B St., Yuba City.

Starting at 6:15 p.m., the event includes a concert featuring God's Country Band and Crossroads Celebration Band, ventriloquist Joyce and Trixie, a barbecue dinner and fireworks. Admission is free.

The Yuba-Sutter Gold Sox will continue the Independence Day weekend Saturday with a fireworks display following the team's game against Sacramento Scorch.

The game starts at 7 p.m., with gates open at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $5 to $10. The fireworks display is sponsored by the Appeal-Democrat.

Daytime events scheduled on the Fourth of July, Friday, include:

• Sixth annual Children's 4th of July Parade on Plumas Street in Yuba City — 10 a.m. starting at Plumas and A streets, with staging at 9:30 a.m., and ending at the Town Center by the fountain.

Children through sixth grade are invited to dress up and decorate their wagon or bicycle. Safety helmets are required.

The parade is sponsored by the Yuba City Fire Department and the Parks and Recreation Department. Call 822-4650 for more information.

• The 14th Annual Cardboard Boat Races at Ellis Lake in Marysville — Registration starts at 10 a.m., with the boats constructed on site, and races at 2 p.m. Open to children and youth ages 8 to 17 years.

All participants must wear life jackets. Cardboard, plastic tape and utility knife will be provided.

For more information, contact the City of Marysville at 749-3901.

• Annual Fourth of July Picnic in Wheatland — 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at C Street Park, 101 C St., with games, food and prizes. Admission is free.

Sponsored by South Yuba Recreation Volunteer Association and the Wheatland Lions Club.

• Biggs All-American Hometown Celebration — Centered in Cork Oak Park on C Street, the daylong event includes a parade at 10 a.m. down B Street and a fireworks display at about 9:45 p.m.

Activities start with a pancake breakfast at 7 a.m., hosted by the Biggs Lions Club; vendor booth opening at 8 a.m.; Gridley Cruisers Car Show at 11 a.m.; and live music by Legend at 7 p.m.

Call Angela Thompson at 868-5088, or Biggs City Hall at 868-5493 for more information.

• Live Oak swimming pool — Admission is free from 1 to 5 p.m. at the community swimming pool at P Street and Pe nington Road. The free day is sponsored by the Live Oak Lions.

As of last Friday, the fires have not disrupted planned Fourth of July fireworks displays.

The displays on Friday include:

• Biggs — About 9:45 p.m. at Cork Oak Park, part of the city's All-American Hometown Celebration. Free admission.

• Colusa — About 9 p.m. at Levee Park on Main Street. Sponsored by the Colusa Firefighters Association. Free admission.

• Oroville Dam — 9:45 p.m. above Lake Oroville. Starting at 6 p.m., buses will run every quarter-hour in a loop from city parking lots in downtown Oroville to the event site. Free admission.

Sponsors include the city of Oroville, various businesses and the state Department of Water Resources.

For more information, contact the Oroville Chamber of Commerce at 800-655-4653.

• Grass Valley — 9:30 p.m. at the Nevada County Fairgrounds. Gates open at 3 p.m., with entertainment starting at 4 p.m. Admission is $8 for adults and free for children 12 years and under; parking is $3.

Activities in Grass Valley start at 11 a.m. with a parade through the center of downtown. The event is sponsored by the Grass Valley/Nevada County and Nevada City chambers of commerce and the Grass Valley Downtown Association. Call 273-4667 for more information.

• Sacramento — 9:30 p.m. at Cal Expo. The fireworks display is free, but parking is $8. A limited number of reserved tickets, $10 each, are available online at www.bigfun.org or at the Cal Expo box office.

The Cal Expo East Gate opens at 5:30 p.m. Activities include the "State Fair Star" talent show preliminary auditions open to 16- to 28-year old vocalists.