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- It's the 4th in Provo! 🇺🇸 🇺🇸
It's the 4th in Provo! 🇺🇸 🇺🇸
The parade starts at 9am, Balloons at 6am at fox field, Stadium of Fire starts at 8pm
Whats Up Provo
July 03, 2024
Happy 4th of July Provo!
There is nothing like the 4th of July in Provo! Balloons in the morning sky. One of the biggest parades in the country. And then at the end of the day THE biggest stadium fireworks show in the country. Also the Jonas Brothers, and they have a song about Waffle House. Everyone loves Waffle House.
The only problem with the 4th is there are too many great events—we don’t want to miss out!
Hopefully today’s newsletter will make planning easier for you and will help you maximize the holiday.
Summary
Morning events
Balloon Fest | 6am | Fox Field
One of the biggest balloon festivals in the country, with usually around 25 balloon teams competing in activities and competitions.
Come early to see the balloons take off (weather permitting).
If you miss it, no worries, the balloons will be taking off from Fox Field tomorrow and Saturday as well.
Freedom Run | 7am | Kiwanis Park
10K, 5K or the “Mayor’s Mile”.
Even if you aren’t running it can be fun to see people wearing in their best patriotic attire racing.
(Just a reminder, no in-person registration and registration closed yesterday, July 3rd.)
The Grand Parade | 9am | Center Street and University
Taken from the Freedom Festival website: “The theme for parade entries is based on America’s Freedom Festival mission statement, ‘To celebrate, teach, honor, and strengthen the traditional American values of God, family, freedom and country’. “
A perfect theme and a great way to celebrate the country we love!
Bleacher seats might still be available, call 801-818-1776 for more information (they usually cost $8).
Of course, you can always claim a spot along the street (hopefully under a big shady tree!). One note from the parade committee about that: “in order to reserve a spot on the parade route at least one person must be present.”
All Day / Evening Events
Freedom Days (Carnival and Booths) | 10am - 10pm | Downtown Provo
Food trucks, food booths, cotton candy, funnel cakes, Texas Twister lemonades (I believe that’s what they are called). 🌭🌯🍭
Also vendors selling and displaying some of the most amazing crafts and artwork.
🎸Live music starts at 11am with a new artist performing every hour until 9pm.
Colonial Fest | 9am - 5pm | Scera Park in Orem
This is something we only started attending recently and our whole family thinks it is great (as long as we bring/buy some food and drinks).
If you aren’t familiar with it, it’s put on by the Freedom Festival and there are booths and displays all across the park, food trucks as well.
It’s an opportunity to step back in time and explore things like:
apothecary shop
blacksmith
cooper
broom maker
gunsmith
potter
displays about frontier life
chocolate making
various other artisans that existed during colonial time
I’ll keep going, there really is so much to do:
Q&A sessions and audience participation programs
gun displays
cannon firing on the green
military demonstrations from the Continental & His Majesty’s Forces
join the Culper Spy Ring and help deliver messages to key players in the battle
take pictures in the pillory, etc.
This is a pillory
Military History Days | 9am - 5pm | Scera Park in Orem
Military History Days will be going on at the same time and place as the Colonial Days. This is a new part of the events at Scera Park (I believe 2023 was the first year they did this) and this year it looks like they are adding a lot more. (And we’ve heard that this year they are putting this all up in a more shady area of the park.)
The focus is on WWII and the great heroes that served America during that time. Here is just some of what you can expect:
World War Two-era tents and workspaces
artifacts from WWII
interactive displays and activities about Aviation, Women in Service, Arms and Ammunition, and so much more!
Military Days will be running through July 7th. And on July 6th there will be a 1940s Swing Dance, with live music🎺, starting at 6 PM (dance instruction provided!).💃
Cries of Freedom | 10am - 8pm | Scera Theater
Cries of Freedom is a musical, chronicling the history of freedom from Joan of Arc to today, with showings at 1pm, 4pm, and 7pm. The shows last 70 minutes, and it’s free! Shows will continue (at the same times) on Friday and Saturday as well.
Also, in Room 101 of the Theater The Brent and Charlene Ashworth Collection will be on display from 10am to 8pm. The Ashworth’s collection of rare items is amazing if you haven’t seen it before. They have real Colonial artifacts, Civil War antiquities, but also sports memorabilia, Mormon relics, etc., etc. The collection will be available for viewing through Saturday.
Stadium of Fire | 8pm - 11:59pm | LaVell Edwards Stadium
The Jonas Brothers are in town this year! The flyover is expected sometime between 8:30 and 9:00 ( one of my favorite parts), and then the fireworks usually start around 10:30. (As you probably know, the traffic afterwards is crazy. Park wisely.)
Other Nearby Events
Thanksgiving Point’s Freedom Celebration @ Electric Park
Gates open at 4pm, and fireworks start at 10pm.
Sundance’s 4th of July BBQ
BBQ, lawn games, lift rides. The BBQ costs $42 per adult, $23 per child. Goes from 11:30am to 7pm.
Get Tickets
Fourth of July Sandy City
Sandy does some unique things for the 4th including a spikeball tournament, a free ninja course, shows from the Flying Aces All-Starts (Olympians on trampolines), and and evening parade @6pm. Fireworks start at 10pm.🧨
Weather - High 80s and then 90s later in the week
Today (7/4) - 86° | ☀️ | 0%
Tomorrow (7/5) - 87° | ☀️ | 0%
July 6th - 90° | ☀️ | 0%
Fire and Firework Restrictions
Check out the restrictions here > https://stateparks.utah.gov/resources/fire-restrictions/
Time changes and closures for the 4th
Splash Summit will be closing early.
The Prov Rec Center will be open from 5am to 6pm. Outdoor Pools 12pm to 6pm. No early swim. No child watch. No fitness classes.
Provo Library will be closed.
Have a fun-filled fourth!
God bless America!
“There are no people on earth in whom a spirit of enthusiastic zeal is so readily kindled, and burns so remarkably, as Americans”
4th of July Themed Workout Music
The Presidential Pump. From the comments:
“We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created to lift.”
-Thomas Swolerson