America celebrates 250 years of independence on Saturday, making this a truly special Fourth of July. There are plenty of free activities offered in Stanislaus County.
The annual Stanislaus County Fourth of July Parade will take place in downtown Modesto at 9:30 a.m. and will travel up 10th Street, onto J Street, then turn onto 11th Street, before going up I Street. The route will be dotted with several radio and DJ booths. There will also be food and craft vendors at 1000 I Street from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m.
On Saturday evening the Stanislaus County Board of Supervisors hosts the 30th annual Fireworks Celebration at Woodward Reservoir north of Oakdale. This longtime community tradition will culminate with a spectacular fireworks display beginning at approximately 9:30 p.m.
Visitors are encouraged to make a day of it at Woodward Reservoir by enjoying the park’s many recreational opportunities before the fireworks light up the night. Day-use admission is $40 per vehicle. Guests may enjoy the park throughout the day before the evening concludes with the fireworks show. Day-use visitors must exit the park by 10 p.m.
Guests are encouraged to arrive early, as entry is available on a first-come, first-served basis and the park typically reaches capacity on Independence Day. To help ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for everyone, there are no in-and-out privileges on July 4, walk-in access is not permitted, and parking along the perimeter of the park is prohibited. These restrictions will be strictly enforced by the California Highway Patrol and the Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Office.
This year’s celebration at Woodward will feature an expanded selection of on-site food vendors, including Taquerias Las Palmas, Yogurt Mill, and Okey Dokey Donuts. Crescent Supply will also operate both the General Store at the Marina and the Outdoor Store at Mountain View Point, offering cold treats, hot dogs, nachos, snacks, beverages, and essential items such as ice, water, firewood, shade hats, sunscreen and water toys.
Visitors planning to enjoy the water are encouraged to wear a life jacket during all water activities, regardless of age or swimming ability. Free loaner life jackets are available at the marina through a grant from the California State Parks Division of Boating and Waterways. Return loaner life jackets must be returned before leaving so they remain available for future visitors.
To help manage traffic, road closures will begin at 6 a.m. on July 4. Dodds, Hinds, Dorsey and Eastman roads will be closed, and access to Woodward Reservoir will be available only through the 26 Mile Road South entrance. The north entrance will be closed. Road closures will be lifted following the conclusion of the fireworks celebration.
For everyone’s safety, personal fireworks are prohibited at Stanislaus County Regional Parks.
Event details, current park information, recreational opportunities, and admission information are available at StanCountyParks.com.
Baseball field fireworks
Closer to Ceres will be the fireworks shows on Friday and Saturday at Modern Woodmen Field (formerly the John Thurman Field) at 601 Neece Drive, Modesto.
The Modesto Roadsters play the Oakland Ballers both Friday and Saturday at 7:11 p.m. with fireworks to follow.
Box seat tickets are $13 while general admission bleacher seats at $10. Children 3 & under are admitted free.
Turlock events
On Friday, July 3, the community of Turlock will celebrate with a downtown parade down West Main Street beginning at 6:30 p.m.
A festival featuring food vendors, family activities, entertainment, and community celebrations will take place at the Stanislaus County Fairgrounds immediately following the parade. Live entertainment will include “Makin’ Noise Band” at 7:30 p.m., followed by a firework spectacular at dusk.
On Saturday, July 4 downtown Turlock will feature a Classic Car Show & Market along West Main Street. The event will run from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
The Downtown Turlock Independence Celebration is sponsored by the city of Turlock, the Turlock Downtown Property Owners Association (TDPOA), the Turlock Chamber of Commerce, the Stanislaus County Fairgrounds, and other community partners.
