It’s going to reach 97 degrees today.

That means you may get a tad warm watching today’s Manteca Fourth of July parade that starts at 10 a.m. and travels down Main Street from Golden West School and then on Center Street to Library Park.

No problem. Manteca firefighters will be putting out the proverbial fire.

Fire Chief Kirk Waters said the popular Fourth of July tradition featuring firefighters bringing up the rear of the parade with a hose cart will return. Firefighters  manually pull the cart to the nearest hydrant, couple the house, and unravel a dozen or so feet. Meanwhile scores of youngsters and young at heart alike rush onto the hot Main Street and Center Street asphalt. Their efforts are rewarded with a fire hose delivering an impromptu Fourth of July street shower .

A hundred entries are expected for this year’s Manteca Fourth of July parade dubbed “Stars and Stripes Forever.” The parade is sponsored by the Sunrise Kiwanis.

Korean War veteran Les Thomas is serving as grand marshal. Thomas has coordinated the distribution and collection of the Flags over Manteca effort of the Manteca Chamber of Commerce since it started.

 The judges review stand has been moved this year to Main and Edison streets.



Pancake breakfast

Manteca Noon Kiwanis will once again serve their Pancake Breakfast at Angelano’s from 7 to 11 a.m. The restaurant is located at the parade staging area in the commercial complex anchored by 24 Hour Fitness.  The cost for adults is $7 and children $4. The menu consists of pancakes, scrambled eggs, ham, juice, milk and coffee. 



Community celebration & aerial fireworks

The City of Manteca’s 2012 Independence Day Celebration and Fireworks Show is this evening from 6 to 10:30 p.m. at Big League Dreams, 1077 Milo Candini Drive. Gates open at 5 p.m. Fireworks will get underway at 9:45 p.m.

 Fireworks will be launched from the wastewater treatment plant. The best viewing is from inside BLD. Admission is $2 for teens and adults ages 13 and up. Admission for children 12 and under is free. The celebration features children’s activities, vendor booths, a softball tournament, live family entertainment and aerial fireworks.

The community entertainment this year consists of:

• 6 to 6:25 p.m. Zephyr (band)

• 6:30 to 6:55 p.m. Police K-9 Demonstration

• 7 to 7:25 p.m. Dream Weavers (band)

• 8 to 9:40 p.m. Threshold (band)

• 9:45 p.m. National Anthem performed by Cheyenne Milligan

The event includes a kids’ zone on the Polo Grounds replica field with access to rides and other activities for kids 12 and under.  There is a $2 per youth charge.

New this year is a teen zone on the Wrigley replica field . There will be  teen games, inflatables, and a disc jockey playing teen music.  The fee is  $2 per person over the age of 13.



Ripon parade & aerial fireworks

Registration for the non-motorized Ripon Old-Fashioned Fourth of July parade is at 4:30 p.m. today at Ripon Elementary School on Main Street. There is a $1 suggested entry fee.

The 1.6 mile route will start and end at the elementary school. It gets underway at 5 p.m.

There will be live music provided by the band Kid Red plus food, music and bounce houses at the school after the parade.

The Ripon Christian Close-Up Club is hosting a BBQ from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.  The BBQ will be available behind the Ripon Christian High School on the back side where the student center is.  There will be signs giving you the directions to the student center. They will be selling meals which consists of hot dog or hamburger, watermelon, chips and a drink. You can also purchase the items individually.  Slices of pie from the “The Pie Company” will be available, as well as ice cream. 

Fireworks are expected to start sometime after 9 p.m. over Stouffer Field. People are urged to bring their own lawn chairs and blankets.