This Week

Lake Tahoe will get an early start on the Independence Day celebration during its eighth annual Red, White & Tahoe Blue event featuring more than 20 events in Incline Village and Crystal Bay, including parades, concerts, a veterans tribute, Rubber Duck Races, ice creameating contest and fireworks shows. The fun begins on Thursday, July 2, and lasts through Saturday, July 4, at various locations. Most events are free. Visit

Fourth o F Ju Ly www.redwhitetahoeblue.org for a sched-

Ce L ebrations ule. The July 3rd Fireworks & Beach Party features food vendors, a beer, wine and mixed drink garden, free watermelon eating, sandcastle building and patriotic costume contests, games, music, fireworks and more. The event takes place from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Friday, July 3, at the North Lake Tahoe Event Center, 8318 N. Lake Tahoe Blvd., Kings Beach, Calif. Admission is free. South Lake Tahoe’s Lights on the Lake Fireworks show can be seen from various locations, including Nevada Beach, Timber Cove Marina, Tallac Historic Site, Edgewood-Tahoe and Lakeview Commons/El Dorado Beach. The free show begins at 9:45 p.m. on July 4. Call (530) 544-5050 or visit http://tahoesouth.com.

Carson City and the Comstock will also have Independence Day events including the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program’s 23rd annual RSVP Fourth of July Celebration and Carnival at Mills Park, 1111 E. William St., Carson City, from Thursday, July 2, through Sunday, July 5. Admission is free but you must purchase tickets for carnival rides. The fireworks show will begin after dusk on Saturday, July 4. Call 687-4680 or visit www.nevadaruralrsvp.org. The Genoa Americana Celebration offers live bluegrass and string band music, educational and children’s activities, food and more on Saturday, July 4. The free event kicks off with a children’s parade at 10 a.m. and concludes with the Carson City Symphony playing patriotic tunes at 4:30 p.m. Call (775) 348-4692 or visit www.americanacelebration.org. Virginia City will hold its annual Fourth of July Parade at noon starting at the Fourth Ward School on the south end of C Street and heading north down the town’s main drag. Throughout the day, visitors can stroll the boardwalk, enjoy live music and entertainment at various venues and watch the fireworks show at dusk. Call 847-7500 or visit www.visitvirginiacitynv.com.

Finally, Sparks will mark the holiday with Star Spangled Sparks from 5 to 11 p.m. The 16th annual celebration features live entertainment, a kids’ area, food vendors and more along Victorian Avenue in downtown Sparks. Fireworks will launch off the towers of the Nugget Casino Resort, 1100 Nugget Ave., after 9:30 p.m. depending on wind conditions. Shuttles will provide round-trip transportation from the Outlets at Legends, 1310 Scheels Drive, Sparks, to the RTC Centennial Plaza at Victorian Square during the free event. The shuttles will pick up guests in the large dirt lot between Fuddruckers and Popeye’s at the Outlets from 4 p.m. until after the fireworks show. Call 356-3300 or visit www.nuggetcasinoresort.com. Reno Celebrates America features patriotic tunes performed by the Reno Municipal Band and a fireworks display. The Artown event takes place from 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at Wingfield Park, 300 W. First St. Call 322-1538 or visit www.renoisartown.com.

—Kelley Lang

Freedom Festiva L

The fifth annual festival features live music, a classic car show, craft booths, a kids’ area, professional wrestling and a motorcycle stunt show. Country band Restless Heart performs on Thursday, July 2, at 7:30 p.m. The free event takes place from Thursday, July 2, through Sunday, July 5, at the Outdoor Event Plaza at Baldini’s Casino, 865 Rock Blvd., Sparks. Call 358-0116 or visit http://baldinis.net. m oon L ight movie s eries

The summer movie series kicks off on July 2 with a showing of Federico Fellini’s 8 1/2. Dress in character to receive drink specials and enjoy live entertainment following the movie. The event begins at 8 p.m. every Thursday on the rooftop patio at Brasserie St. James, 901 S. Center St. Call 348-8888 or visit www.facebook.com/ BrasserieSaintJames for weekly movie and character specifics.

m otors in the m ountains

More than 75 hot rods, rat rods and exotic cars will be on display starting at 11 a.m. on Saturday, July 4, in the Squaw Valley preferred parking lot, 1920 Squaw Valley Road, Olympic Valley, Calif. There will also be a traditional barbecue and other meal options, as well as live music from Dream and the Dreamers from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and Jacked Up from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Visit http://squawalpine.com.