Celebrate the 4th with fun in park, fireworks display

By Emily Sorensen

Poway will be the place to be on the Fourth of July, with three major celebration or remembrance events being held throughout the day and into the evening.

The Old-Fashioned Fourth of July will begin at 10 a.m., and continue through 4 p.m. at Old Poway Park, 14134 Midland Road. This free celebration will feature live music, old-fashioned games, arts and crafts, food, family fun and, of course, the return of wily train robbers as you ride the park’s steam engine.

This year marks the 150th anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg, and the celebration will be honoring the anniversary with Civil War re-enactments at 12:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. You can also get your picture taken with Uncle Sam and President Abraham Lincoln.

Storyteller Charles Johnson will be the emcee for a stellar lineup of live music in the gazebo all day. The entertainment will kick off with a rifle salute from the Shadow River Regulators at 10 a.m., followed by The Dixiestrutters performing at 10:10 a.m. Enjoy Abraham Lincoln giving his famous Gettysburg address at 10:45 a.m. from the back of the train, and the Heritage Dancers will give a square dancing performance at 11:20 a.m.

Shawn Rohlf and the Buskers will perform at 11:50 a.m., followed by Jeff Bertino and Mike Stubblefield at 12:50 p.m. The Coast to Coast Barbershop Quartet will perform at 1:30 p.m., followed by The Jackstraws at 2:10 p.m. Finishing up the live entertainment will be a performance from the Pomerado Community Band at 3:10 p.m.

There will be free kids activities and arts and crafts, as well as old-fashioned games. Food will be for sale for a nominal fee, including ice cream, apple pie, roasted corn on the cob, hot dogs, and more.

The train will also be running for a nominal fee, but watch out for train robbers! Train robbery re-enactments from the Shadow River Regulators and the Apache Canyon Gang will be happening throughout the day.

There will also be model trains and antique, patriotic quilts on display, and arts and crafts for sale.

While you’re there, stop in the Heritage Museum, which will be open during the celebration. On display is the museum’s new patriotic and military-themed displays, through July. Volunteers will be available to answer questions. Jack Briscoe, World War II veteran and brother of former Heritage Museum president Ernie Briscoe, will be celebrating his 100th birthday at the museum on the Fourth, and will have his medals on display, and will be happy to discuss his military history.

Once the festivities at the Park are over, you can get ready to head over to the Poway High School stadium, 15500 Espola Road, for the 4th of July Fireworks Celebration, which is 7 - 10 p.m. Enjoy music provided by a DJ and recreation games until the fireworks begin at 9 p.m. Entrance fee is $2 per person, children 11 and under are free. Get there early, because this is always a popular event.

July 4th to be marked at Veterans Park

Between riding the train and enjoying the fireworks, head on over to Poway Veterans Park, 14135 Midland Road, at 11 a.m. for a celebration of the country’s birthday, “All Gave Some, Some Gave All.”

The celebration will begin with firing off the park’s replica Civil War cannon, followed by the unveiling of the newly installed personal tiles and the newly installed military tiles that have been placed on the front of each kiosk, honoring each branch of service. Free cake will follow.

Approximately 570 tiles are at the Veterans Park, with 21 new tiles recently installed. New military tiles, that honor each branch of the military, have also recently been installed.

Poway Veterans Park is located across the street from Old Poway Park.

Call Don at 858-964-8115 for details.

For more details on Fourth of July events in Poway, call 858-668-4671.