This year’s theme for the Fourth of July parade will leave the Lahontan Valley buzzing for the long holiday weekend.
Sponsored by the Fallon Chamber of Commerce, the city of Fallon and Churchill County, the parade highlights one of the county’s main agricultural businesses by focusing on “America the Bee-autiful.”
Featuring Rau Bees as the parade grand marshal, the celebration honors the hard work of local beekeepers and recognizes the importance of bees and other pollinators in maintaining the food supply, said Chamber Executive Director Lucy Carnahan. She also hopes this will raise awareness of the campaign at www.BeeFriendlyNevada.com which encourages creating bee-friendly habitats, reducing the use of pesticides and providing water sources.
The parade starts at 10 a.m. on Taylor Street at Churchill County Middle School and then follows its customary route. Floats, cars and individuals will travel north on Taylor to A Street, then east to Ada Street, south to Williams Avenue, east to Maine Street and then go south returning to the middle school. Limited street closures near the parade route will be in effect before and during the parade.
Many businesses along Maine Street will be open during the parade. Food trucks and a vendor fair will also be set up on Maine Street in the lot next to the Nugget Casino. Expected food and drink vendors include The Tipsy Tumbleweed specialty drinks, The Snack Oasis shave ice, Sprinkle ice cream & treats and Hungry Digger.
Craft vendors will include Let Us Charm You handmade items, Altamont polished rocks and jewelry, Pickin’ and Grinnin’ produce, Jenny’s Jewelry, TBones Chimes and more, Renewal By Andersen windows, One Bite at a Time baked goods and Sweet Breezes room sprays and candles. Epworth United Methodist Church and Wolf Center Community Services will host a tent of kids’ crafts and activities.
Additional parade sponsors include American Legion Post 16, Banner Churchill Community Hospital, CC Communications, Cheek Construction, Dairy Farmers of America, Kent’s Supply Center, New Millennium Building Systems, Oasis Online Consulting, Parkway Fitness Club, Sage Academy Preschool, Tedford Tire & Auto Service, The Depot Casino & Diner, The Village Nursery & Garden Center and Walker Lake Disposal, Fallon Glass & Signs and Telegraph Coffee & Tap.
“We have a wonderful community that wants to be a part of this,” Carnahan said.
Carnahan said that Octavia Merritt took first place in the Chamber’s pie bake-off last Saturday with her “Chocolate Chip Cookie Pie.” Kathy Fraker’s “White Christmas Pie” came in second place and Haylee Brenneis won third place with a “Stars and Stripes Floral Delight” pie. First and second place each received commemorative pie plates and third place earned a $25 Country Creamery ice cream gift certificate.
For information, call the Chamber at 775-423-2544.
JULY 4 ACTIVITIES
● The Fallon Theatre concessions stand will be open for snack purchases during the parade and will have a special showing of “Bee Movie” Friday and Saturday at 6 p.m.
● The Churchill County Republican Party 4th of July barbecue begins at noon at the Frey Ranch, 3975 Reno Highway. The fundraiser lunch is $35 a plate for hamburgers, hot dogs and root beer floats with games for all ages. For information contact Leslie Beach at 775-426-8152 or visit churchillrepublicans.com.
● Fireworks will start at dark from the Rattlesnake Raceway and can be viewed throughout the city.
● Car races at the Rattlesnake Raceway are Friday and Saturday beginning at 6 p.m. for the mini stocks class, bootleggers, street stocks, International Motor Contest Association stock cars, IMCA sport mods, IMCA modifieds and dwarf cars. General admission is $10 for ages 11 and up. Children 6-10 years old are $5 each and ages 5 and under are free. Outlaw kart racing begins at 2 p.m. on Saturday only with a drivers’ meeting at 1 p.m.