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Sonoma knows how to show its patriotic side. This Valley puts on a celebration that is truly home town, complete with parades, proclamations and popcorn. Valley residents big and small come out to enjoy the day of festivities.

Activities will get under way at 9 a.m. as the Plaza Celebration kicks into gear with a welcoming guest speaker in the Grinstead Amphitheater. Be sure to stake out a place on the Plaza with a good view, because at 10 a.m. the annual parade makes its way around the square.

The parade will include a healthy dose of floats trailing streamers and balloons, shiny antique automobiles, marching bands and plenty of pizzazz. Businesses, nonprofits and residents alike will have the chance to show off their red, white and blue pride. As always, the Hometown Band will take the stage with a performance at 11:30 a.m. leading into the Patriotic Ceremony, where local politicians including Mayor Joanne Sanders and 1st District Supervisor Valerie Brown are slated to speak.

For the remainder of the day, the Plaza will be a flurry of activity with plenty of food, games and music to go around. Culinary choices will include typical festival offerings like snow cones, hot dogs and nachos.

For the little ones, activities include funny clowns, inflatable bounce houses, a climbing wall, water-balloon toss and even a haunted house. For adults, the day will continue with plenty of tunes including performances by Crossfire, Carlos Herrera Band and the Vox Populi R&R Choir. The annual celebration is sponsored by the Sonoma Community Center, which this year partnered with Viansa Winery.

Fireworks, courtesy of Sonoma Volunteer Firefighters Association, begin after dark in the field at the Gen. Vallejo Home on West Spain Street.

The Sonoma Community Center presents

Sonoma's Old Fashioned

Fourth of July Celebration and Parade

saluting

"Getting It Done"

The Working Men and Women of Sonoma Valley

Friday, July 4, 2008

Around the Plaza and

Behind City Hall

9 a.m.

Plaza celebration begins

9 a.m.

Speaker's Corner -

Amphitheater

10 a.m.

Parade begins

11:30 a.m.

Hometown Band concert

11:45 a.m.

Patriotic Ceremony

11:55 a.m.

Home Town Band Continues

12:30 p.m.

Vox Populi R&R Choir - Amphitheater

1 p.m.

Music on the Lawn: Crossfire

1:15 p.m.

Parade awards

1:30 p.m.

"Sonoma Youth Music:

The Next Generation Getting It Done" - Amphitheater

3 p.m.

Music on the Lawn: Carlos Herrera Band

5 p.m.

Plaza celebration concludes

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