Merced County events going all out for July Fourth

Livingston organizers are busy this week preparing for the town’s big Fourth of July Festival, which starts Friday evening.

The festival, at the Max Foster Sports Complex on Walnut Avenue, will begin with carnival rides Friday before a full day of activities starting 9 a.m. Saturday, including a car show, parade and rapper Baby Bash performance Saturday night.

Sunday will include a variety of performances beginning at 3 p.m., ending with Banda el Limon and Banda la Marinera that night.

Monday marks the country’s Independence Day, and festival events will begin with the National Anthem at 3 p.m. Local veterans will conduct a flag-raising ceremony at 5 p.m., and a fireworks spectacular is scheduled to begin at 9:15 p.m.

This year’s event is sponsored by the Carlos Vieira Foundation, a nonprofit founded by the race car driver and owner of 51Fifty Energy Drink that raises money to help valley families living with autism with the educational tools, medical supplies and services a child needs to flourish and live a healthy, happy life, according to the foundation’s website. Profits from this year’s festival will go toward helping local veterans and to the Carlos Vieira Foundation, said Julio Valadez, the event’s committee chairman.

For a full schedule of events, go to http://livingston4thofjuly.com.

Atwater also will have a one-day July Fourth festival Monday, beginning with a Run for Independence at 7:30 a.m. The festival starts at 9 a.m. with a parade at Fosters Freeze and vendor booths at Ralston Park.

The festival will conclude at Castle Commerce Center, which will open at 6 p.m. with more booths and bounce houses. Parking will be $10 per entry, and no walk-ins or parking on Santa Fe Avenue will be permitted. Organizers encourage bringing blankets and lawn chairs.

A concert by Max Yasgur’s Farm, featuring music from the Woodstock era, will begin at 7 p.m. followed by a fireworks show. No one will be permitted into the event after 9 p.m.

The Merced Speedway will have a fireworks show at 9 p.m. Saturday. Grandstands open at 3:30 p.m. and races begin at 7 p.m.

The Merced Irrigation District is bringing back its Lights on the Lake display this year after it was canceled last year because of drought conditions. The show is set for dusk or about 9 p.m. on Saturday at Lake McClure. Spots at McClure Point to watch the show will open to the public at 5 p.m. The cost is $20 per vehicle to enter Lake McClure through the kiosk at 9090 Lake McClure Road in Snelling.

The Gustine Chamber of Commerce will host a Fourth of July in downtown starting at 10 a.m. Vendor booths open around the same time at Henry Miller Park from noon to 5 p.m. on Monday. A fireworks show at Gustine High School’s football stadium begins at 7 p.m.

This story was originally published June 29, 2016 at 4:47 PM with the headline "Merced County events going all out for July Fourth."