Fire in the Sky

Fireworks, parades and pancake breakfasts galore will be held in Utah on July Fourth. There will be Independence Day festivities in virtually ever community, park and play area and visitors are always welcome to join the fun. Look for details at information centers, government offices and libraries.

Sometimes neighboring communities join together for festivities, but more often they hold their own. You can usually see four or five fireworks displays simultaneously if you sit atop Ensign Peak or some other viewpoint overlooking Salt Lake Valley.

Book ski trips now! Special offer - stay three nights and get a fourth night free. Available for Park City area properties for specific dates. Accommodations at resorts often sell out early so book now to get the dates you want. Call our travel consultants for details between 9 am - 5 pm, MST: 1-888-881-1120.

At Bullfrog and Wahweap, Lake Powell's waters will reflect the fireworks shows.

On July 24, Utahns celebrate Pioneer Day, marking the arrival of Mormon Pioneers in Salt Lake Valley. Parades and cultural events will be held in most communities.

Native Americans host an Intertribal PowWow and celebration at Liberty Park in Salt Lake City on July 24. There will be dancing, costumes, authentic food, arts and crafts and other events. Activities begin at 1 p.m. Call 801-533-9503 for details.

Some major celebrations and special events are listed below:

America's Freedom Festival at Provo. The Grand Parade will be on the Fourth, beginning at 9 a.m. Stadium of Fire events will feature Grammy award winner Martina McBride, national commentator Sean Hannity and performances by the Osmonds Second Generation, followed by one of the largest fireworks shows in America. There will also be hot air balloons, arts, crafts, food, music and many other activities, beginning July 3.

The big Salt Lake Valley celebration is called the Red Hot 4th. It will feature The Beach Boys, the group Imagine (a Beatles tribute band), The Rockin' Roadhouse Tour, the Utah Symphany and a massive fireworks display. It will be held at USANA Amphitheatre in West Valley City.

Utah's Great Whitewater Water levels are good, making rapids exciting, but publicity about the drought in the West has slowed business. As a result, guide services are offering deals. There are still openings for trips in July and August. Call our travel consultants for details between 9 am - 5 pm, MST: 1-888-881-1120.

Ogden's Hot Rock'n 4th will be held at Golden Spike Events Center. Call 801-399-8799 for information.

Salt Lake City's Days of 47 activities include one of the oldest and largest parades in America, separate horse and children's parades, a marathon and 10K run, a rodeo and a royalty pageant.

Vernal will hold its Dinosaur Roundup Rodeo July 9-July 12. It's touted as one of the "Top Five Rodeo's In The World." For more information contact the Vernal Chamber of Commerce (435) 789-1352.

The Bryce Canyon Country Rodeo at Ruby's Inn is offered at 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday through mid September. This is a fun show, highly entertaining. Ruby's also offers a "Cowboy Dinner" where you ride in a covered wagon into the forest and then enjoy an authentic western dinner. These are great ways to end the day after hiking, biking or horseback riding in the scenic Bryce area.

An Intermountain Fly Fishing Clinic will feature presentations by Steve Rajeff (13-time world casting champion), Dennis Breer (Green River legend and owner of Trout Creek Flies guide service), Denny Rickards (premier stillwater guru and author of Strategies for Stillwater Trout), Mark Forslund (expert guide on the Provo and Green and owner of Four Seasons Fly Fishers). It runs July 11 & 12 at Johnson Mill Bed and Breakfast, on the banks of the Provo River near Heber. Call 800-498-5440 or info@utahflyfish.com for details.

The Festival of the American West is the event to attend if you want to gain a greater understanding of what life was like on the frontier. This award-winning festival is now in its 32nd year. It runs July 25-Aug 2, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., at the American West Heritage Center in Wellsville (near Logan).

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