4th of July

Celebrate Independence Day the Marin way! Communities across the county observe the 4th of July in their own unique ways. Here’s what’s going on in Marin on the 4th of July. We will be updating the list as we learn of new events, so please check back.

You can also add your local Independence Day event to our Family Events Calendar.

Corte Madera-Larkspur

• The Corte Madera-Larkspur festivities start off with a pancake breakfast—with pancakes, sausages, fruit, and beverages—at Larkspur's American Legion Twin Cities Post 313 from 8 to 11 am at the corner of Ward Street and Magnolia Avenue. The cost is $5 to $7, with gin fizzes for $3 (from the Legion's 1928 recipe) and proceeds benefit local Boy and Girl Scouts and Little League.
• Don’t miss this year’s 45th Annual Corte Madera-Larkspur Chambers of Commerce 4th of July Parade! Don't miss the elaborate floats, precision drill teams, classic cars and the Corte Madera Town Band. Parade starts at noon. Accompanying festivities at Corte Madera's Town Park 9 am to 5 pm include arts and crafts, food and drink, carnival games, children's activities, bounce houses, and stage shows. The parade leaves Redwood High School in Larkspur at noon, moves down Magnolia into Corte Madera and continues down Tamalpais Avenue to the Town Center. Free. Info: (415) 924-0441 or www.cortemadera.org.

Inverness

• The Inverness Fourth of July Party takes place from 9 am–1 pm and features its 103rd annual foot races for the whole family, from toddlers to adults. Festivities happen on Inverness Way near the fire station.

Marinwood Firefighter's Association's 50th Annual 4th of July Pancake Breakfast

• Join the Marinwood Firefighters for pancakes from 8:30–11:30 am at the Marinwood Community Center at 775 Miller Creek Road, San Rafael. Adults $7, children under 11 $5, and seniors (over 65) $5. For more info call (415) 479-0122 or visit www.marinwood.org.

Nicasio

• Rancho Nicasio Restaurant & Bar will hold its annual 4th of July Weekend BBQ on the Lawn, featuring Zydeco Flames, at 3 pm at the town square. The cost is $15 for adults; $5 for children under 10. Call (415) 662-2219 or go to their website.

Novato 18th Annual 4th of July Parade, Breakfast, and Races

• The 57th annual Buckaroo Breakfast will be part of 4th of July festivities in Novato served from 8:00 to 11 am at the Redwood Credit Union parking lot at 1010 Grant Avenue in downtown Novato. Come enjoy eggs, pancakes, sausage, orange juice, and coffee. Hosted by the Presbyterian Church of Novato, all proceeds benefit a Novato community mission project. There is a suggested donation of $5 for adults, $3 for kids. Proceeds will be donated to the Marin Community mission project. For more info, call (415) 897-6152.
• Novato’s 18th Annual 4th of July Parade begins at 11 am in downtown Novato, at the corner of Grant and Railroad Avenues. This year's theme is "Novato 50 Years Young". Every year Novato hosts fifteen to twenty thousand spectators and over 100 parade entries ranging from classic cars and vehicles from a military museum to Irish bagpipers and a Chinese drum and bell corps. Along the parade route, you will also find food and refreshment booths, and souvenir t-shirts. For more information, go to www.novatoparade.com.
  

With babies and small children, the ritual of watching 4th of July fireworks becomes a little, well, inconvenient. Often they're scared of the noise (if you're close enough to hear, that is), or they're up way past their bedtime or, even worse, woken up from a deep sleep. Nothing's quite as crabby and grumpy as an overtired toddler or preschooler, no matter how great the promised fireworks are.

With this in mind, we've sought out places to watch the fireworks at the Marin County Fair that don't involve straying away from the car, because there of the two sleeping occupants. The Marin County Fair's fireworks used to be kind of weak, but the last couple of displays we've seen have been really impressive. Obviously you can just pay your $15 and go to the fair, but again, if you've got two sleeping children in the car, this isn't really going to work. Neither is driving over near the fair—it's hard to see anything from the area along Civic Center Drive, and the resulting post-fireworks gridlock is totally miserable.

It’s time again for the Marin County Fair at the Marin County Fairgrounds in San Rafael, near the Marin Civic Center. This theme for this 64th fair is "Going Global—Connecting Cultures". Highlights include a Global Stage with entertainment from around the world, a Global Village in the Exhibition Hall, a Global Kitchen where you can experience local and international foods, and more.

Of course there are also the more traditional fair offerings like farm animals and Hambone Express pig racing in the barnyard, 28 free (with fair admission) carnival rides, the 21st annual Creatures and Models exhibit (with appearances by the ever-popular Imperial Storm Troopers of the Golden Gate Garrison), concerts, fine arts, bonsai, and of course the nightly fireworks display.

This year's Marin County Fair runs from Thursday, July 1 through Monday, July 5, 11 am to 11 pm daily.

The Marin IJ has a printable coupon on their website for $2 off on one ticket to the Marin County Fair. The coupon is good on for the Marin IJ Day on Thursday, July 1 only. Limit one coupon per person. Present the coupon at the gate on when purchasing your tickets. Go to their website to print out the coupon.

It’s time again for the Marin County Fair at the Marin County Fairgrounds in San Rafael. This theme for this 64th fair is "Cool Green Fun." Highlights include a solar powered carousel and stage, the Big Green Magic Show by Steve Trash, science fun and education with Wizard's Challenge, recycled arts and crafts, an electric car display, and more!

Of course there are also the more traditional fair offerings like farm animals and Hambone Express pig racing in the barnyard, 28 free (with fair admission) carnival rides, the 20th annual Creatures and Models exhibit, concerts, fine arts, and of course the nightly fireworks display.

This year's Marin County Fair runs from Wednesday, July 1 through Sunday, July 5, 11 am to 11 pm daily.

Happy 4th of July! Here's a another great kid-friendly recipe from What's Cooking's Michelle Stern, perfect for your Independence Day barbecue or any other day, for that matter. What's Cooking offers cooking classes, parties, and gifts for children and families. Visit What's Cooking at www.whatscooking.info.

BBQ Drumsticks with Brown-Sugar Sauce

My husband is my best critic in the kitchen - he loves bold flavors and raved about this sauce. We used Trader Joe's organic ketchup which doesn't include any high fructose corn syrup--I think it made all the difference.

1 cup ketchup
1/3 cup brown sugar, packed
1 Tbs Worcestershire sauce
1 Tbs cider vinegar
3 pounds chicken legs
salt and pepper to taste

With the 4th nearing and the kids out of school and at home, the age-old question of “What to do?” gets asked more frequently. FamilyFun.com, the website for Family Fun magazine, has a wealth of great ideas for seasonal family activities. Among their offerings for the 4th of July are craft ideas, including festive fans, Fouth of July twirlers and liberty shakers; patriotic games including the egg and spoon race and popcorn relay; 4th of July parade-wear suggestions; and picnic recipe ideas. Some of the recipes include are frozen yogurt pops, frozen Uncle Sams, pineapple coconut sherbet, and kids' strawberry daiquiris to name a few. read more »

Marin Mommies wishes you and your family a safe and happy 4th of July!