STORY AND PHOTO BY KAREN BOSSICK
The coronavirus may have put a dent in the robust list of activities the Wood River Valley rolls out each Fourth of July. After all, it’s cancelled Sun Valley Resort’s ice show and Hailey’s rodeo.
But there will be fireworks. There will be live music. And there will be a parade in this pandemic Independence Day celebration.
And, just in case you need a reason to turn out, this year’s Fourth of July parade will celebrate Hailey’s heroes--health care workers and other essential workers like bus drivers and grocery store clerks who have been seeing us through this pandemic.
“We live in the greatest place on earth,” said Hailey Mayor Martha Burke. “We did what we had to do. We did the right things here. We care and appreciate one another. We honor and show gratitude for our community on this Fourth of July.”
Just one note. If you take part in any of Hailey’s activities, there’s one fashion accessory you’re going to need to add to your wardrobe. That would be a face mask, as the City of Hailey is now one of five Idaho cities, including Boise, mandating that everyone wear masks in public spaces unless they can maintain at least six feet of distance.
SUN VALLEY’S FOURTH OF JULY:
- All day—Take a STORYWALK along the Big Wood River. With the annual Riverfest cancelled, the Wood River Land Trust is inviting community members to share memories and impressions of why the river is important to them and others. Pictures are welcome, too.
The Land Trust will hang these observations and artwork at Howards Preserve in Bellevue, Draper Preserve in Hailey and Boxcar Bend Preserve along the bike path north of East Fork Road. Individuals are welcome to hang theirs, as well.
- 10 a.m.-2 p.m. HAILEY ARTISTS MARKET at The Loft, 15 E. Bullion St. in Hailey.
- 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Fourth of July PATIO PARTY featuring BBQ, spiked lemonade and live music by Powdersteering at The Mint, 116 S. Main St., in Hailey.
- 10-11 a.m. Free guided TOUR of the Garden of Infinite Compassion at the Sawtooth Botanical Garden, four miles south of Ketchum at Gimlet Road and Highway 75.
- Noon. Hailey’s 4th of July PARADE. Valley residents are invited to decorate bikes and cars and take part in the parade, which will begin this year at the Community Campus and wind through the streets of old Hailey.
The parade will head west on Fox Acres Road, turn right on Eastridge Drive, right on Buckhorn Drive, left on Quigley Road and right on Eighth Avenue. From Bullion it will turn right onto Second Avenue, passing Wood River Middle School before turning left onto McKercher Boulevard and left onto North First Avenue.
It will follow North First Avenue past McDonald’s, turn left onto Myrtle Street, right onto Fourth Avenue, left on Elm, right on Shoshone Street and left on Chestnut Street. It will pass Deerfield Park and make a right onto East Ridge Drive, right on Eastridge Drive, left on Fox Acres Road and end up back at the Community Campus.
- Noon-4 p.m. Sawtooth Brewery will feature LIVE MUSIC at Hop Porter Park in Hailey, along with KB’s burritos and Sawtooth Brewery beer.
- 2 and 4 p.m. The Argyros Center for Performing Arts will screen free, physically distanced showings of a documentary called “PASSFIRE” that offers a glimpse at the people and cultures behind fireworks around the globe.
- 4 p.m.-10 p.m. Sun Valley Resort will hold a PICNIC ON THE PAVILION LAWN. The Gary Tackett Band will play from 6 to 8 p.m., followed by a family-friendly movie on the big outdoor screen. Picnic baskets featuring roasted chicken or BBQ ribs plus sides and desserts cost $99 for four and $59 for two and can be reserved at 208-622-2135. A fireworks show will cap the evening at about 10 p.m.
- 5:30-8:30 p.m. RICHARD BLAIRE & THE MT. TIME TROUBADOURS play a free concert in the lounge of the Limelight Hotel, 145 Main St., Ketchum.
- 5:30 p.m. Sun Valley Resort will hold a BBQ AT TRAIL CREEK with live music starting at 5:30 p.m. The menu includes cornbread, potato salad, brussels sprouts and apple slaw, berries and watermelon, roast chicken, pork ribs, four-cheese mac & cheese and chocolate chip cookies. Cost is $99 for four or $59 for two, with reservations being taken at 208-622-2135.
- Dusk. FIREWORKS over Hailey, shot off from a spot near the Community Campus in Hailey.
- 10 p.m. FIREWORKS over Sun Valley Resort.