Saratoga News

Plans move forward for July 4th big bash

By Julie Mehta

Plans are moving steadily forward for Saratoga's first Independence Day celebration, which organizers intend to be a traditional July Fourth party without the fireworks.

The idea was sparked when Villa Montalvo Center for the Arts offered to let the city use its grounds free of charge for the day. Saratoga Springs will hold a barbecue at the site and the city Parks and Recreation Department will organize kids' games, including gunny-sack and three-legged races and hula-hoop contests.

"It's a family-type thing. People can bring a blanket, basket lunch and bottle of wine and listen to music," says Marilyn White, who is chairing the committee coordinating the event, which she hopes will draw 1,000 people. A committee representing more than a dozen community organizations has been meeting since April to plan the festivities. Planners are encouraging groups to sell food to raise funds and hand out literature about themselves at the celebration.

Food booths will include beer sponsored by the Saratoga Chamber of Commerce, juices by Friends of the Saratoga Library, popcorn by the Saratoga Senior Center, and ice cream by the Saratoga Employees Association. Snowcones, slushes, candied apples, pretzels and other munchies will also be available. The event is scheduled to run from 1 to 6 p.m. and will feature music by Saratoga Taiko, local group Skillet Lickers and a teen band. An organization that does Civil War reenactments may participate as well.

U.S. Sen. Bob Dole was invited to speak but has said he cannot commit to an appearance. Congressman Tom Campbell has also been invited but has not yet responded.

"It's pretty low-key," says Mayor Paul Jacobs. "We're not planning a laser light show and a 40-piece orchestra." Yet the plans have drawn fire from some neighbors of Villa Montalvo upset about potential noise from the event compounding the noise they say they already suffer from during Villa Montalvo's annual concert series.

But the celebration has drawn support from several local real estate firms, which are helping underwrite the cost of the five shuttle buses the city will use to transport attendees to Villa Montalvo from Saratoga High School or West Valley College. White says she anticipates the city will not have to pay a cent of the estimated $2,000 total cost of the event.