Community Corner
Sonoma's Fourth of July Promises Twelve Hours of Celebration
From the 10 a.m. parade to half-an-hour of fireworks beginning at 9:30 p.m., it's a full day of patriotic revelry in downtown Sonoma. Who cares if it's a Wednesday?
America's 236th birthday , making a three- or four-day weekend tough to pull off. But we're pretty sure that Sonoma knows how to make the best of a mid-week party -- especially if it's a national holiday.
Of course there's the Independence Day and General Mariano G. Vallejo’s Birthday and Sonoma Community Celebration. It kicks off with a marching band parade at 10 a.m., followed by food, wine, games, and entertainment on Sonoma Plaza to benefit Sonoma Valley non-profits (officially until 5 p.m.), plus a great view of fireworks at dusk from General Vallejo home on Spring St. It's sponsored by the , which notes that it's also the 200th anniversary of Count Agoston Haraszthy's birth.
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The is right on the money with their , promising a special menu for five days, from Wednesday the 4th to Sunday the 8th with such delectables as a Red White and Blue special, featuring award-winning wines (that would be the "red" and the "white") paired with Blue Frites made with Rouge River Blu Cheese. They will also be serving their on Wedneusday the 4th, and if you make your reservation in time you'll have a ring-side seat for the parade.
Not to be outdone, has lined up a full day of music, from 11 to 9, also to benefit arts programs at the. As well as 10 hours of music they promise a great 4th of July menu, beer and margarita tents, and the alley filled with dancing and festivities. Their music lineup includes Midnight Sun, Tudo Bem, Magic featuring Willie Adams, The Hellhounds, and Broke the Moon featuring Sean Carscadden & Marty O'Reilly.
Find out what's happening in Sonoma Valleywith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Upscale and a couple blocks away, offers music by Tudo Bem (they get around), a sumptuous buffet featuring favorites off the grill, and an unobstructed view of the fireworks during their celebration.
The fireworks display usually begins when it's dark enough to enjoy, close to 9:30. Notes sonomauncorked: "The Sonoma 4th of July fireworks boom through the valley and create a great echo effect. The show is about a 1/2 hour long and always peaks at the end. Highly recommended, true Americana, bring a picnic, cooler, flashlights and sweaters."
