A parade, watermelon eating contest, World War II mural dedication, a pancake breakfast, pow wow, and aerial fireworks will mark the Fourth of July in Manteca and Ripon.

Starting things off today is the Ripon Fourth of July carnival and midway that opens at 4 p.m. at Mistlin Sports Park on River Road. Carnival rides will be open until 11 p.m. They will operate Saturday from noon to 11 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 9 p.m.

Fireworks will be shot off over Mistlin Sports Park after dusk on Saturday.

The 38th annual Three Rivers Indian Lodge Pow Wow opens tonight at 7 p.m. with the grand entry at the North Union Road lodge about a half mile north of Del Webb at Woodbridge.

 Grand entry start time for Saturday is noon and 6 p.m. as well as Sunday at 1 p.m.

While the event is free you might want to make sure you have some money to visit various vendors. Besides drumming and dancing there are native art and craft, food vendors and more.



Manteca events

on Saturday

The 52nd annual Manteca Kiwanis Fourth of July Pancake Breakfast starts things off Saturday from 7 to 11 a.m. at Angelano’s Restaurant, 1020 N. Main St. There will be pancakes, ham, eggs, coffee, orange juice and milk. The cost is $8 per person while children 11 years and younger pay $4.

The Sunrise Kiwanis are staging the Fourth of July parade at 10 a.m. It starts on Jason Street across from Golden West School and heads down Main Street, to Center Street, and terminates at Library Park. The parade’s theme is “Faith, Freedom, and Family.”

The Manteca Mural Society will dedicate the World War II mural dubbed “The Spirit of America” at 12:30 p.m. in the parking lot for Bedquarters at Yosemite Avenue and Main Street.

The City of Manteca’s Old-Fashioned Fourth of July Celebration starts at 6 p.m. at Big League Dreams Sports Park.

The fireworks show will start shortly after 9:45 a.m.

It includes a kids’ carnival with unlimited ride wristbands going for $2 each for ages 2-12. There will be disc jockey music with children’s old fashioned games and prizes.

A Kids’ Art Exhibit featuring art from the Manteca Recreation & Parks Department Summer Camp is part of the evening’s offerings. There will be a watermelon eating contest, beer garden with live music, and gaming trailer while New Hope Church will stage various  activities.

Entertainment includes the pop punk band Zephyr from 6 to 6:40 p.m.; Dreama Diaz from 6:40 to 7 p.m.; the Latin/funk band Time Frame from 7 to 8 p.m., and bands provided by Gordon Kenny and Friends featuring music form the 1970s and 1980s from 8 to 9:40 p.m. Cheyenne Milligan will sing the national anthem at 9:45 p.m.

There will also be 17 booths.

Big League Dreams is hosting USSSA Girls Fast Pitch State Championships for ages 10, 12, and 14 under teams this weekend. Games start today at 11 a.m. and end Sunday at 8 pm. Sixty-five teams  from all over Northern California will compete.