Guide to Celebrating the 4th of July in Flagstaff

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The 4th of July is one of my favorite holidays in Flagstaff! It’s the epitome of a “small town 4th” and is as close as my generation is ever gonna come to the famous community picnic scene in “The Sandlot.”  

Here’s a quick rundown of the festivities, including tips & tricks to make your Flagstaff 4th flawless:

First Friday Art Walk

Friday, June 30. Kick off Flagstaff’s favorite holiday weekend with Art Walk! From 6pm – 9pm downtown businesses open their doors for Flagstaff’s favorite monthly party! Enjoy the art galleries, live music, treats and much more. 

Yoga in the Park 4th of July Party 

Saturday July 1, 8:30am. Grab a friend and enjoy an amazing yoga class outdoors with a view of the mountains. Jam to the tunes of local string duo Matt Bingham & Andrew Hamby. Stay after class for a fantastic lineup of vendors: Trunk show with lululemon, product samples courtesy of Whole Foods and a FREE mimosa at the Oakmont when you stay for brunch! $5 drop-in, limited mats available for use.

Independence Block Party – Aspen Place at the Sawmill

Saturday July 1, 1:00pm – 4:00pm. Shop some fabulous 4th of July sales, FREE samples, bubble activities for kids and more! Enjoy tunes and enter to win prizes from 92.9 KAFF CountryRadio, including tickets to see Tim McGraw and Faith Hill in concert.

84th Annual Hopi Festival of Arts & Culture

Saturday July 1 and Sunday July 2, enjoy a “Fourth of July tradition since the 1930s, the Hopi Festival of Arts & Culture features more than 100 award-winning artists and presenters from the Hopi villages in northern Arizona. Buy traditional and contemporary art and enjoy Heritage Insights lectures, artist demonstrations, and performances by the Hopi Sinom Dancers, Tyrone & The Ledge, Tha ‘Yoties, and flutist Fredrick Andrews.” – MONA Daily Admission: $12/adults, $8/youth, Kids 10 and under FREE

11th Annual Flagstaff Art in the Park

July 1, 2, 3 from 9am – 4pm in downtown at Wheeler Park. Over 100 artists come together for Flagstaff’s Finest Art Show. There’s live music and amazing food, plus a wine garden featuring six Arizona vineyards! Best of all, admission is FREE. 

Babbit Ford 4th Annual Ford Classic Car Show

Sunday July 2, 10am – 1pm. Bring the whole family down for live music, games, prizes, and free BBQ. Show the kids some classic cars and enjoy a free hotdog lunch! 

Lights on the Lawn Fireworks Show

Monday July 3, 3pm – 10pm. Flagstaff’s official fireworks show, Lights on the Lawn, begins at 3 p.m. The event has all kinds of activities for the kids to help them burn off energy before the fireworks show. Admission is FREE, and VIP tickets are also available for purchase. 

Fourth of July Downtown Mile

Tuesday July 4, 7am. This annual event is a highlight of the weekend, with everyone from Olympians to first time runners participating. There are multiple categories for participants; including the new Wheelchair mile. Kids 10 and under can participate in a 1/2 mile race for FREE! Don’t forget about the costume contest! Awards for BEST individual and group, as well as a raffle for all participants. 

4th of July Parade

Tuesday July 4. The parade kicks off at 9 a.m. It begins at the top of Beaver Street, heading south to Aspen and then east to San Francisco before going north again. The parade features military, marching bands, cheer and dance groups, beautifully decorated floats, animals (High Country Puppy Rescue is one of my favorite entries each year!) and much more. 

Pssst…I think this parade is even better than the Holiday Lights Parade! It’s no wonder 20,000 people visit downtown Flagstaff for the event. 

Tips:

  • Plan for shade! It can be surprisingly hot at 9 a.m. on the 4th of July. The sun gets intense, so in addition to sunscreen, you want to pack ways to cool off – shade umbrellas, misting water bottles, ice-cold beverages, etc. 
  • Pick a spot on the east side of the street next to a downtown building, it will stay shady most if not all of the parade. 
  • Bring a bag. Yes. A bag – because you leave this parade with as much swag and candy as though you’ve been trick-or-treating on the 4th of July! 
  • Arrive early and snag a seat on a downtown restaurant patio. Many restaurants along the route open early on the 4th of July to offer drink service during the parade. 

Trick: If you don’t already have a real estate agent, begin a relationship with one located downtown before the 4th of July! Most of the real estate offices host 4th of July parade parties complete with full breakfast and drinks, free giveaways, face painting, balloon artists and more. 

Cool off at the Pool 

My friends are going to kill me…because I’m sharing the best-kept secret in Flagstaff: Bear Paw Activity Center. Located on the hill behind the driving range, this membership-based pool is also open to the general public for $15 per person/day. 

Contact Continental Country Club to purchase day passes. 

While there, you can enjoy ice cream and snacks, Starbucks coffee, a mini putt-putt golf course, ping pong tables, pool tables and even video games inside the club house. There are three swimming pools available, one is heated and only 18″ deep – perfect for the smaller kiddos! 

A Flag Fourth

Tuesday July 4, 3pm. Bring a low-folding chair or blanket to enjoy the concert. Gates open at 1:30; the concert starts at 3:00. There is a fee for parking, but admission is FREE! Patriotic and pops music is conducted by Jon Eder. The Armed Forces Salute to honor our veterans and military is not to be missed!

Have a very Happy 4th of July Weekend with your families! 

6 COMMENTS

  1. I love the 4th of July parade! We’ll be out of town this year and it will be the first one I’ve missed since we started going!

    • I know!! My family has a reunion planned over the 4th this year and I’m like “Do NOT take me out of Flagstaff for the 4th of July!” haha! You’ll have to check out pics on social media and pretend you’re there. 🙂

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