Best July 4 celebration ever

You’ll want to be in Mammoth Lakes for this year’s Fourth of July … part of the “Best Summer Ever!” Here are just a few reasons why:

~ Lion’s Club’s “Pancake Breakfast” @ Chart House Parking Lot, 7-11 a.m.

~ Mono Council for the Arts “Mammoth Celebrates Art”art show @ Footloose parking lot, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

~ High Sierra Striders’ “Footloose Freedom Mile” starting at Old Mammoth & Minaret @ 10:10 a.m.

~ Mammoth Lakes Chamber July 4 parade down Main Street and up Old Mammoth Rd. at 11 a.m.

~ Chamber Music Unbound’s “Pops in the Park” @ Mammoth Creek Park, just after the parade.

~ U.S. Forest Service’s “Fire Safety Fun Festival” @ Fire station #2 on Sawmill Cutoff Rd., after the parade until 3 p.m.

~ Mammoth Lakes Fire Department’s “Open House” @ Fire station #1 on Main Street, noon to 3 p.m.

~ Grumpy’s “Hot Dog Eating Contest” @ Grumpy’s parking lot, after the parade

~ Farmers Market @ Luxury Outlet Mall, from 4-7 p.m.

~ And the annual “Fireworks Spectacular” @ Crowley Lake @ 9:15 p.m.

There will also be fireworks on Thursday, July 5, in the Village at Mammoth, right around sundown.

For more, call the Mammoth Lakes Chamber at 760.934.6717.

Big July 4 festivities in Bishop

And Bishop will be celebrating July 4 in grand style as well. on July 3, stop by the Paiute Palace Casino’s Celebration for fireworks, barbecue, live entertainment, giveaways, kids activities and family-friendly fun.

July 4 will be a BIG day at the Bishop City Park, with a one-pitch softball tournament, open play Bocce Ball, tennis, volleyball, free swimming, ice-cream, watermelon & pie and more!

And stick around for the Fireworks Show at Bishop Airport, hosted by Bishop Volunteer Fire Department.  Gates open at 3 p.m.; show starts at dark

Bridgeport 150th July 4 events

One of the finest family activities in the Western United States takes place in Bridgeport (in Mono County, about 45 minutes north of Mammoth Lakes) each year: an old fashioned, small town Fourth of July! This year, Bridgeport hosts its 150th Annual July 4th celebration from June 30 to July 4.

Festivities start on Saturday, June 30, with an Arts and Crafts Festival, softball tournament, dance, karaoke sing along and more, leading up to the traditional, spectacular fireworks display at the Bridgeport Airport on July 4.

Other activities include a Turkey Shoot, a Rodeo (tickets available at event), a pancake breakfast, running events, a Main Street Parade, horseshoe tournament, mud volleyball, a greased pole climbing contest and even a rubber duck race. Kids will have a ball at the fun attractions set up for them on the Courthouse Lawn. There will be a raffle for lots of great prizes.

While you’re there, make a point to visit the USMC Historical Society is also nearby. Visit www.mcmwhs.org for more info on that.

And for a complete flyer listing all the many events in Bridgeport this coming July 4 holiday, visit www.bridgeportcalifornia.com.

Much ado about Shakespeare

The Much Ado About Shakespeare summer camp returns to the Mammoth Lakes Foundation’s Edison Theatre this July for an extended full week camp, concluding with an excerpted performance of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

Camp meets July 16-20, 9:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. for ages 6-16. Learn new performance skills and how to develop scenes. Fee: $250. Register by sending $75 non-refundable deposit (made out to “Much Ado”) to:

Much Ado About Shakespeare, LLC
P.O. Box 1815
Mammoth Lakes, CA 93546
The Edison Theatre is located at 100 College Parkway, across from Cerro Coso Community College. Info/questions: 760.934.6592.

Mono GOP hosts Gregg Imus

The Mono County Republican Party’s will meet on Tuesday, July 10, in the Bridgeport Memorial Hall at 6 p.m. Guest speaker at the meeting will be U.S. Congressional candidate Gregg Imus, who bills himself as a “Minute Man” and a constitutionalist, and has been endorsed by former GOP U.S. Presidential candidate Herman Cain.

Imus is running for Congress against Paul Cook in District 8, which includes Mono County. The two will square off for the seat in November. Imus will speak at 6 p.m., meeting will follow at 7 p.m.

Horseback rides

Convict Lake resort offers daily, two-hour horseback rides for beginning to intermediate riders. Must be 7 years or older. $60/person. For more information, call 760.934.3800 or visit www.comvictlake.com.