Independence Day Events for the Holiday

July 4 falls on a Tuesday this year, but that midweek date won’t greatly affect the way Healdsburg celebrates Independence Day. If anything, it gives the city and its residents more opportunities to turn Independence Day into something special.

With one exception: There will not be the regular Tuesday in the Plaza music event on July 4 due to the other events the City of Healdsburg has committed to. 

“While we understand that the concert is a beloved tradition for many of our residents, the City’s Police, Fire, Public Works and Community Services teams—all who have a role in these special events—don’t have the staff capacity to deliver three major events on the July 4 holiday,” reads a notice on the city’s website.

“This change will allow us to focus our resources on facilitating long-standing holiday traditions for our community.”

Here’s a look at the events queued up for action from the City of Healdsburg and the businesses and organizations that throw themselves into celebration.

Certified Farmers’ Market (9am-12:30pm): The regular Tuesday Market in the Plaza will go on as scheduled, with one notable change: Though Plaza Street between Healdsburg Avenue and Center is usually partially blocked off to allow for food venders to set up, on July 4 the market moves to the other side of the plaza. This time it will be Matheson Street that will be partially closed off, open to one-way traffic only, according to market director Janet Ciel.

“We’ll have booths lining both sides of the street, facing into the center. That way, the Rotary can do their Duck Dash and all that,” she said. 

Kids Parade & Duck Dash (10am-1pm): The City of Healdsburg, in cooperation with the Rotary Club of Healdsburg Sunrise, is holding an all-ages event in the Plaza area on Tuesday. Signups for the Kids Parade start at 10am; the parade itself is at 11am. Youngsters are encouraged to dress in costume, and to arrive on bikes, tricycles and wagons adorned with red, white and blue decorations.

Other events include lawn games, face painting and Duck Dash races.

What is a Duck Dash? Participants are asked for a $2 donation to adopt a small rubber duck, decorate it and watch it race to the splash zone. Donations will benefit the good deeds of Rotary in the local community, including scholarships, teacher appreciation and other Sunrise Rotary projects.

Music will enhance the party atmosphere as well, from Court ‘n’ Disaster, the Russian River Ramblers and the Healdsburg Community Band. Free lemonade, hot dogs, snow cones, popcorn and street corn will be available.

Prune Packers (4pm): Not a team to let an occasion pass by unnoticed, the California Collegiate League reigning champion Healdsburg Prune Packers will have their own July 4 celebration at Rec Park, starting at 4pm. They play the Novato Nicks, a non-aligned collegiate team from Marin County.

“On the 4th, we are honoring our own first responders, Bell’s Ambulance,” said team president Richard Bugarske. “If you call 911, they are there in a flash, and you know you are in good hands.” Further details are in the works.

Music: In a non-city celebration, The Elephant in the Room (177 Healdsburg Ave.) promises an “Independence Day Mini Fest,” including Tony Glaser’s Band of Theseus, the John Courage Trio, and Treasures, plus a Philly cheesesteak pop-up. Starts at 2pm; lasts until the city’s fireworks. $20 at the door.

City Fireworks (approximately 9:30-10:10pm): Independence Day fireworks show will return on schedule, expected to start after 9:30pm and continue for about half an hour. The pyrotechnics are created by Pyro Spectaculars by Souza, courtesy Healdsburg’s American Legion post, with financial support from the Healdsburg Tourism Improvement District.

Suggested viewing areas include Fitch Mountain School, with its broad grassy field, and the parking area at Healdsburg High. There will be restricted access within the main high school grounds and playing fields where the fireworks are set up.

Street closures are limited to University between Badger and Monte Vista, and Sanns Lane between University and Harold Lane. Experienced fireworks viewers know that immediately following the show the streets in the wider neighborhood are full of pedestrians, so caution is imperative for all drivers and pedestrians.

Police Chief Matt Jenkins said the department was “upstaffing on the 4^th of July to cover the events and provide sufficient patrol coverage for the rest of the City.”  

City Manager Jeff Kay reminds the community that no personal fireworks, including so-called “safe and sane” fireworks, are permitted in Healdsburg. “We will be doing our part to provide a really great show for the community, but we’re asking everybody to partner with us and not provide their own shows,” he said.

Kay also noted that the Healdsburg Memorial Bridge will be illuminated in red, white and blue, in accordance with a recently adopted decorative bridge lighting policy.