Fourth of July activities will happen across Valley
By DANA DUGAN
The Fourth of July holiday weekend officially begins on Thursday with the celebration of the national holiday, but a host of other activities and events will continue through next week.
Nearly every venue will host some entertainment—musical and otherwise—from the Silver Dollar and Mahoney’s in Bellevue and The Wicked Spud and The Mint in Hailey, to Whiskey Jacques’ in Ketchum.
First up, Sun Valley Records LLC and Sun Valley Magazine will present Southern rocker Eric Lindell in concert at Ketchum Town Square, from 5 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, July 3. Food and beer will be available at the venue.
“The vision is to orchestrate a private and public collaboration, and to create a music experience over the Fourth of July week that amplifies a dynamic city,” said Elizabeth Hendrix, Sun Valley Records co-founder.
In Hailey, the Sawtooth Rangers Riding Club’s Days of the Old West Rodeo, featuring some of the best riders and stock in the country, has occurred every year over the Fourth of July holiday since 1947. This year, the rodeo is under the direction of the Idaho Cowboys Association (ICA) and co-approved by the Intermountain Pro Rodeo Association (IMPRA). In addition to the usual high-energy action rodeo events, there is pre-rodeo entertainment with rodeo queen contestants, freestyle reining competition, mutton busting beginning at 6:30 p.m., with the rodeo beginning at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, July 2, Wednesday, July 3, and Thursday, July 4. There will also be family rodeo entertainment.
Tickets are available at the Hailey Visitor Information & Welcome Center on South Main Street, and all three Atkinsons’ Market locations in Hailey, Ketchum and Bellevue.
The University of Idaho Extension, Blaine County 4-H families will host a pancake breakfast, from 7:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. Thursday, July 4. There will be homemade pancakes, eggs, bacon, sausage, and more at the Upper Big Wood River Grange Hall, 609 S. 3rd Ave., in Hailey.
Before heading to the parade, there’s a “5k Fun Run, Tutus and Tennis Shoes” event in Hailey. The run will begin at 9 a.m. Thursday, July 4, at the Meriwether Building, in support of the Sun Valley Ballet Foundation. For more information and to register, visit tutusandtennisshoes5k.com.
The Hailey Days of the Old West Parade will head south on Hailey’s Main Street, beginning at noon on Thursday. This year’s parade grand marshal is local community advocate Lynn Campion. To register as an entrant, visit valleychamber.org.
The Hailey Rotary Road Apple Roulette is held each year during Hailey’s Fourth of July Parade. Via GPS satellite, the parade route is sectioned off into 10,000 squares that are each designated a number. The funds raised go to a variety of special causes, events and charities through the Hailey Rotary Club.
After the parade, the Wood River Land Trust will host the fifth annual RiverFest at the Draper Wood River Preserve and Lions Park. The family-friendly event has local food and craft vendors, free Toni’s Ice Cream (while supplies last) and kids’ activities. The band Up A Creek will play to be followed by Salt Lake City-based band Swagger, as this year’s headliner.
The annual Fourth of July Fireworks Extravaganza will be presented by the City of Hailey and The Chamber. It’s viewable from spots all over Hailey. KECH 95.3 FM will broadcast a soundtrack for the Hailey fireworks.
The Hailey Art & Antique Show will be held at Roberta McKercher Gateway Park at the south entrance to town. It annually features regional antique vendors and wares, along with a beer garden and food vendors. The show will run 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday and Friday, and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday.
The Mint in Hailey will offer a post-parade Patio Party from 1 to 4:30 p.m. Thursday, with live music by Powersteering. Jersey Girl throws an annual post-parade party immediately after the parade. On the evening of the Fourth, Mahoney’s Bar & Grill in Bellevue will feature a free, family-friendly special live concert at 6:30 p.m. with Like a Rocket.
Starting at 7:30 p.m. Friday, The Mint will also hold an Ida-Hoedown with The Weary Boys, along with line dancing and country swing.
Company of Fools theatre company will present the Pulitzer Prize-winning play, “Crimes of the Heart,” by Beth Henley, at the Liberty Theatre in Hailey. For tickets, visit companyoffools.org.
Ballet Sun Valley will present the San Francisco Ballet’s Summer Performance on Friday, July 5, and Sunday, July 7, at the Sun Valley Pavilion. Thirty-eight San Francisco Ballet dancers, from 13 countries (Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, England, Estonia, France, Italy, Japan, Mexico, South Korea, Spain, and the United States) will perform.
“We are excited to return to Sun Valley seven years after our first performance there in 2012,” said Helgi Tomasson, San Francisco Ballet artistic director and principal choreographer. “The Sun Valley Pavilion is such a beautiful venue in one of the most natural settings in which we have ever performed.”
Friday evening will feature a collection of seven pieces. Included in this performance will be works choreographed by Tomasson; Victor Gsovsky, Russian teacher and dancer; and Yuri Possokhov, San Francisco Ballet choreographer-in-residence, and Danielle Rowe, formerly of Nederlands Dans Theater.
The second night will feature a mixed repertory-style performance with three longer ballets, all of which premiered last year in the Unbound Festival. Included in this program will be pieces choreographed by Trey McIntyre, former artistic director of Trey McIntyre Project; Justin Peck, resident choreographer and artistic advisor; and Stanton Welch, artistic director, of the Houston Ballet.