This year Atwater will be putting on its 60th annual 4th of July parade and festival.
The celebration, a long-time favorite of residents in the Atwater area, will include a race, festival, parade, and the traditional holiday fireworks.
The festivities will begin with the “Run for Independence,” hosted by the Merced Running Club. The run starts at 7:30 a.m., beginning and ending at Ralston Park.
Following the race, visitors can view the parade and explore the festival. Both the parade and festival are free to the public. The festival will also be located at Ralston Park and will feature a variety of booths for food, merchandise, and information relevant to Atwater residents.
The parade begins at 9 a.m. by the Fosters Freeze at Winton Way and Elm Ave. It will go down Winton Way, make a left on Broadway, a left on 3rd St, and proceed down to Juniper.
In the evening the party will move to Castle Commerce Center, where there will be a concert followed by fireworks. The Central Valley band Western Bound will be performing, with Dave Luna as MC.
Those interested in participating in the parade or as a festival vendor still have time to get involved. Vendor spots are filling fast, with applications due before the end of June.
Shirts commemorating the Diamond Anniversary of the Atwater 4th of July are available at Travis Credit Union, Merced School Employees Federal Credit Union, and Merco Credit Union for $15 or two for $25. The Atwater 4th of July is a non-profit and always seeking sponsors. They also accept donations, which are tax deductible.
More information is available on the Atwater 4th of July website at atwater4thofjuly.org. Additional information for the morning race is available at mercedrunningclub.com.