Fourth of July festivities abound

COEUR d'ALENE - A number of festivals, parades and fireworks shows will offer plenty of opportunities to celebrate the Fourth of July in style around the area this holiday weekend, as the land of the free and home of the brave celebrates her 235th birthday.

In Coeur d'Alene, the party starts at 11 a.m. Monday with the American Hero's Parade down Sherman Avenue, from 15th Street to Garden Avenue. Around 85 entries have filled all the parade positions, and this year's start to the parade will be buzzed from above.

Two A-10 thunderbolt planes, courtesy of the Idaho Air National Guard, will do a flyby to signal the start of the parade.

"They're coming down at 500 feet," said Diane Higdem, chamber events coordinator, warning of the roar the 'Warthogs' will create. "That's pretty low."

While the aircraft will mark the official start of the parade, about 15 minutes before the parade is the Sherman Mile; a fun run with competitors dashing down Sherman from 15th Street to the clock tower. So the fleet-footed should get there early. After the parade, revelers are invited to spend the afternoon at City Park with live music, food vendors, and games.

The calling card for Independence Day, the $30,000 fireworks show over Lake Coeur d'Alene, will blast away for around a half-hour beginning at dusk. That can be anytime between 9:30 p.m. and 10:15 p.m., so if you want to get a good spot at the park or Independence Point, plan on getting there before that.

Bayview will celebrate Bayview Daze for the 101st time this weekend.

The four-day community event begins at 9 a.m. Friday, and a slew of vendors, games, raffles, barbecue, music, beer gardens, costume contests and street fairs will last through Monday. The staple events are the 11 a.m. parade down Main Street on Saturday and the fireworks show over Lake Pend Oreille at 10 p.m. Sunday.

Info: 683-2216.

While the Kootenai County Sheriff's Department issued a warning that it will be conducting marine and backcountry patrols throughout the weekend - focusing on intoxicated drivers and boaters and proper safety equipment on vessels and other recreational vehicles - there will be controlled car crashing on Sunday for pure entertainment value at Stateline Speedway near Post Falls.

This year's derby will have a big and small car demo, but more than just crashing cars, food and fireworks will accompany the celebration, which all begins at 5 p.m.

Tickets, $12.75 for adults, $11.75 for students, senior and military or $5 for juniors, are available at Les Schwab Tire Center on Seltice Way in Post Falls by calling 773-1566.

The forecast for Monday is for clear and sunny conditions, with temperatures reaching the mid-70s.

The Kootenai County Sheriff's Department also reminded boaters that with the dam being open, swift currents in the Spokane River can be hazardous.

Need more Fourth options?

• The Harrison fireworks show, which lasts around 20 minutes, starts at dusk Monday evening. Live music will be downtown from 2 to 5 that afternoon. Info: 755-5527.

• The Hayden Lake Country Club fireworks show begins at dusk on Monday. It's a private club, but anyone in the area will likely see the sparkles over the lake. Info: 772-3211.

• The Spirit Lake parade begins at 11 a.m. Monday, with vendors, food and games in City Park afterward, and fireworks at 10 p.m. at the baseball field on Jefferson Street.

Info: Verla Reed 623-2275.

• The Coeur d'Alene Casino Resort in Worley will host a free show around 10 p.m. Monday. The show runs around 40 minutes. Info: (800) 523-2464.