Summer solstice has arrived. In Monmouth and Independence that means Independence Day celebrations are right around the corner.
With July 4 falling dead center in the middle of the week, some areas could tapper off their schedules this year. In Polk County’s river and college towns, it means a full week of activities.
The first activity out of the gate is a July 1 car show. Alex Trevino has booked “Smoke ‘em if you got ‘em,” at the Independence Riverview Park which will hopefully prove to be an ideal warm-up to a celebrated week.
With a beer garden, Salem’s classic rockers JT the Tourists and Portland’s rockabilly band the Twangshifters penciled into the lineup, the “warm up” act looks promising.
As for the meat of the week and the celebrated Independence Day festivities, here is a full schedule of events:
2012 Monmouth July 4th Festival
Schedule of Events
Tuesday, July 3
• Noon: Festival Opens
• 12-5 pm: Bounce Houses
• 12-7 pm: Vendors Open
• 12-9 pm: Beer Wine Garden
• 1-5 pm: Children’s Arts Crafts
• 3:30-4:30 pm: Zumba In The Park
• 5-6:45 pm: The Girls From Company B – World War II Veterans Tribute (Sponsored by MINET)
• 5-7 pm: Chili Feed (Senior Center)
• 7-9 pm: Willamette Valley Concert Band, Reconstituted Monmouth-Independence Town Band
• 9 pm: Festival closes
Wednesday, July 4
• 9 am: Festival Opens
• 9 am-6 pm: Farmer’s Market
• 9 am-6 pm: Bounce Houses
• 9 am-6 pm: Vendors Open
• 9:30-11:30 am: Woodburn Rocks – Classic Rock
• 12-7 pm: Beer Wine Garden
• 10 am-2 pm: Classic Car Show
• 11:30 am: Mini-Marathon
• 11:45 am: Children’s Parade
• Noon: July 4th Parade
• 12-5 pm: Military Equipment Display
• 1-5 pm: Children’s Arts Crafts
• 11 am-5 pm: Monmouth Business Association (MBA) Country Barbecue Fund-raiser for Main Street Christmas Lights
• 1:15-3:30 pm: The Ben Rice Band – Blues
• 4-6 pm: Karaoke In The Park
• 6-7 pm: WOU Drama Department Summer Preview Performance
• 7 pm: Festival Closes
2012 Western Days,
Schedule of Events
Wednesday, July 4
• 11:30 am: Mini-Marathon
• 11:35 am: Children’s Parade
• Noon: July 4th Parade
• Noon-7 pm: Evergreen Aviation kids’ activities
• Noon-Midnight: Vendors Open
• 6-7:45 pm Aaron Shinkle (Variety/Country). (shinkle46 @hotmail.com, 503 507-8433). Sponsored by MINET
• 8:30-9:40 pm: Kathy Boyd Phoenix Rising (bluegrass). (phoenixrisingband.org, kbpr135@gmail.com), Sponsored by OSU Federal, Your Community Credit Union
• FIREWORKS
• 10:45-11:30 pm: Kathy Boyd Phoenix Rising
Thursday, July 5
• Noon-7 pm: Evergreen Aviation kids’ activities
• 2-10 pm: Vendors Open
• 7:30-9:30 pm: Candente Fogonazo (Hispanic/Latino). (Fernando Cruz, 4715 Wyoming Circle NE, Salem, OR 97305-2692, 503 980-5088), sponsored by Rock Salt Imports
• 9:45-11:50 pm: “Captain America,” movie sponsored by Rick’s Place
Friday, July 6
• Noon-7 pm: Evergreen Aviation kids’ activities
• 2-10 pm: Vendors Open
• 6-7:30 pm: Majik Band Gibson (rock). (jdddcgibson@gmail.com, Dana Gibson, 503 581-6798, 503 602-3582)
• 8-10 pm: Abby Road Live (Beatles). (info@abbeyroadlive.com, Michael Wegner, 706-255-3854), Sponsored by Edward Jones, Ben Meyer
Saturday, July 7
• 10 am-6 pm: Home Depot Demos and Kids “do it yourself” Project Kits
• Noon-7 pm: Evergreen Aviation kids’ activities
• Noon-Midnight: Vendors Open
• 6-8 PM: Froggy, Dennis the Allstars, (blues). Sponsored by Redgate Vineyard (bluesoscarfrog@aol.com, Bill Hyland, 831-809-3756)
• 8:30-9:45 pm: Ben Rice Band, joined by Paul J. Biondi – country/blues. Sponsored by Barbara Storey Rum Cakes (benrice- live.com, ricebeans@hotmail.com, pauljbiondiproductions@yahoo.com, 541-746-6222) (Note: Paul Biondi not playing in Monmouth Park, only Independence)
• HOMETOWN FIREWORKS
• 10:45-11:30 pm: Ben Rice Band
Sunday, July 8
• 10 am-Noon: Church Service