Want to celebrate the Fourth of July?

Look no further than your hometown.

Saturday Downtown and Old Town Auburn will be abuzz with Independence Day festivities beginning with the Firemen’s pancake breakfast and ending with a fireworks show when the night sky darkens.

In between, kids can play classic games in Old Town, celebrants can watch the Little Miss and Little Mister Firecracker pageant and don’t forget the parade that marches down Lincoln Way and ends at the Gold Country Fairgrounds.

The “Wipe out” float will be one of several that will take over Downtown streets starting at about 7 p.m. for the annual parade.

Patrick and Jeannette Witz helped build the float, along with parent volunteers, to represent Creative Kids Preschool and Child Care in Meadow Vista.

The float depicts an eight-foot swell crashing down on a group of kids building a sandcastle.

“We just kind of tried to come up with something easily recognizable and fun,” Patrick Witz said. “You always have little sandcastles wiped out on the beach. We embraced that and blew it up to our perspective.”

The fairgrounds will host live music. Kids can enjoy a rock climbing wall, pony rides and karate demonstrations.

A Fast Fridays demonstration will also take place in the grand stands.

If that’s not reason enough to come enjoy the day, Auburn Chamber of Commerce Director Bruce Cosgrove has one more:

“It’s their hometown and they’ll be there with other friends and neighbors,” Cosgrove said.

The Journal’s Jenifer Gee can be reached at jeniferg@goldcountrymedia.com or post a comment.

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Auburn Family Fourth Schedule

7 a.m. Fireman’s Pancake Breakfast, Bootleggers parking lot, 210 Washington St. Pancakes, eggs, sausage, juice and coffee $6 per person.

9 a.m. to noon Classic kids’ games in Old Town Auburn

3 p.m. Registration for Little Miss and Little Mister Firecracker Pageant at the Gold Country Fairgrounds on the Gold Country stage. Pageant begins at 3:30 p.m.

7 p.m. Fourth of July parade starts at 601 Lincoln Way and continues down High Street to the Gold Country Fairgrounds

7:30 p.m. live music at the Gold Country Fairgrounds. Catch a Fast Fridays demonstration at the grand stand

9:40 p.m. Fireworks spectacular

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Colfax celebrates the Fourth

What: Colfax’s July 3 Independence Day celebration

When: Begins 11 a.m. July 3; Fireworks start around 9:15 p.m.

Where: Festivities surround Downtown Colfax

Visit: Colfaxprideinc.org for more information

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