You can start your Independence Day at the:

• Freedom Parade to be held July 4th at 8:30 a.m. at Mescal Park, located 11015 N 68th St.  Decorate yourself, your bike, your wagon, your dog, or just come watch the fun.

Then, spend some time at the pool or someplace cool, like the movies – the weather forecast shows a high of 112.

Next, you can head to the:

• Grand Ol’ Fashioned Picnic will be held at the Scottsdale Stadium, located at 7408 E. Osborn Road.  5-7:30 pm.  Scottsdale Parks and Recreation is sponsoring this FREE fun family celebration. “Music, pie eating contests, old fashioned family games…. Hot dogs provided, or bring your own meat or veggies to grill…… grills provided.”  In contacting the city yesterday, I was told that while there are no fireworks at the stadium (too close to the local hospital), they will be handing out maps to area fireworks displays. 

What I did discover was that you can watch a local fireworks show at the:

• Scottsdale Hyatt Regency at Gainey Ranch – 7500 E. Doubletree Ranch Road
  I called and talked to the front desk and they confirmed they will have a fireworks show.  For a front row seat, you will need to be a guest of the hotel or have a reservation at one of their restaurants.  From experience, I know that this show is visible from the surrounding neighborhoods, so parking on one of the side streets in the area is a possibility. 

If you are ready to try something different, here are a few of the other options you have around Phoenix and northern Arizona:

• Jon Griffith has shared about biking from Scottsdale to Tempe Town Lake for the fireworks display. 
• Artur and Joanna have compiled a very extensive list of events around the Phoenix metropolitan area.
• Steve Belt has a list of northern Arizona displays.

And then as a special treat on the long 3-day weekend, the McCormick-Ranch Train Park will have fireworks on Sunday night (July 6th), presumably right after the weekly free concert ends.  This week’s band is CC Rider Express, a retro 80′s band.

Have a great 4th – we’re having chicken and ribs, how about you?