Plans firming up for Fourth of July

With the Fourth of July a little more than than two weeks away, the Fallon Chamber of Commerce and the Churchill County Parks and Recreation Department are in the homestretch in lining up sponsors and parade entries to this year’s event.

Since 2012, Fourth of July in Fallon encompasses a wide array of activities for people young and old, ranging from the parade, to a family day at the fairgrounds to auto racing and fireworks at Rattlesnake Raceway.

Natalie Parrish, executive director of the Chamber of Commerce, said this year’s theme is “Independence Day.” Entries in the parade, she said, are encouraged to decorate their vehicles, horses and floats by using thematic ideas such as the stars and stripes, cutouts of the Founding Fathers and aliens portrayed in the “Independence Day” movie, etc. She said parade entries are due to the Chamber of Commerce office no later than July 1.

The parade route has not changed and will snake around Fallon beginning at 10 a.m. from the middle school on Taylor Street, heading north to The Homestead, east to the American Legion, south to Williams Avenue and then east to Maine Street. The route then heads south to the middle school.

Parrish said previous parades have drawn more than 100 entries from the community and Naval Air Station Fallon.

Parrish said an announcement on this year’s grand marshal will be forthcoming.

Danny Gleich, recreation supervisor with the parks and recreation department, said progress has been made on the schedule for the family events. Included so far are three bands, a car show, watermelon-eating contest and food vendors.

Rounding out the day will be auto racing at the Rattlesnake Raceway northeast of Fallon, followed by fireworks at dusk.