Get your fill of 4th of July events

Fireworks explode over a crowd at the 2011 celebration at Analy High School. (BETH SCHLANKER/ The Press Democrat)

Several years ago, fireworks companies came up with a genius idea: If only they could get people to celebrate the Fourth of July on a day other than the Fourth of July, then they could get even more business.

So they offered half-price fireworks to smaller towns like Monte Rio and Bodega Bay, which would much rather pay $9,000 than $18,000 for a show that’s over in 20 minutes. And suddenly, the June 30th Independence Day celebration was born.

So once again, if you time it just right this year in Sonoma County, you can watch at least four fireworks shows in the next five days — but only if they’re visible beneath the marine layer.

“There’s a mantra we have in Bodega Bay, around June 1st we get everybody to start chanting, ‘No fog, no fog, no fog,’” says Sissy Blanchard, president of the Bodega Bay Area Chamber of Commerce.

It’s worked the past three years.

What happened four years ago?

“The fog rolled in and all you could see were these faint glowing lights above.”

Even at $9,000, it’s a little disconcerting.

Fog or no fog, it all goes up at 9:30 p.m. Sunday at Westside Park, 2400 Westshore Road, Bodega Bay. Free. More information at www.bodegabay.com.

Across the county, in the town of Sonoma, organizers are less worried about the fog than finding a theme for their annual Fourth of July parade.

“We like to go one layer deeper,” says Sonoma Community Center organizer Toni Castrone.

This year, they’re celebrating the 200th birthday of Count Augusten Haraszthy, the founder of Buena Vista Winery. The parade kicks off at 10 a.m. on Wednesday and the party in the plaza runs until 5 p.m. Look for music by the Don Giovannis and the Saddle Cats before the Sonoma Valley Firefighters shoot off fireworks after dusk. Free. More information at www.sonomacommunitycenter.org.

A group of friends waft in the cool waters of the Russian River at the Monte Rio beach as they wait for the annual fireworks to begin. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat)

Taking advantage of the discount and a weekend of festivities, Monte Rio hosts the earliest Independence celebration of all this Saturday along the Russian River, with a barbecue from noon to 5 p.m. and the Big Rocky Games for kids from noon to 4 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.

By far the folksiest (and funkiest) display in the region, the party kicks off with a water parade and float contest, then lighted designs are projected on a curtain of water showering from the Monte Rio bridge, followed by fireworks after dusk. Free. More information at www.mrrpd.org.

In Santa Rosa, the biggest and baddest pyrotechnics display — Red, White and Boom – lights up the skies Wednesday night, preceded by live music by Pat Jordan Band and Wonderbread 5. $7 admission. $5 parking. More information at www.santarosaredwhiteandboom.com.

The next biggest celebration, in scale and musical volume, is Sebastopol’s 34th annual Kiwanis Fireworks and Music Festival at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, July 3 at Analy High School, 6950 Analy Ave. Brothers of Siren, Harvest Band and Frobeck supply the tunes; you supply the ooh’s and aah’s and Kiwanis lights the fuses. $8 tickets, $5 kids age 6-11. More information at 824-2300.

Footing the bill once again, the American Legion Sotoyome Post 111 sends rockets over the Healdsburg High football field right after dusk on Wednesday. Get there early – maybe not quite “Tuesday Night in the Plaza” early, but almost – to set up your seats. 1024 Prince St., Healdsburg. Free (but donations are always accepted). www.sotoyomepost111.org.
In Petaluma, fundraising for the annual celebration came down to the wire once again this year.

“We’re going to put a donation box at the door. We’re still hoping to bring in $2,500 more,” says Jan Mandrell, Petaluma Recreation Supervisor.
So why not try the half-price deal on some other day than the 4th?

“We did that one year (1998) and the community went bonkers,” says Mandrell. “Petaluma is a very patriotic community.”

Look for a rock-climbing wall for the kids and performances by Pacific Empire Chorus and Clean Slate. 6 p.m. Wednesday at the Sonoma-Marin Fair, Petaluma. Free. More information at www.cityofpetaluma.net/parksnrec.

Bay Area freelancer John Beck writes about entertainment for The Press Democrat. You can reach him at 280-8014, john@sideshowvideo.com and follow on Twitter @becksay.

CLICK HERE for a complete guide to fireworks around Sonoma County.