Celebrate July 3rd and 4th in Kenwood

Party!

Kenwood is a great place to enjoy a holiday, and even the day before a holiday.

That’s right, the July 4th weekend actually kicks off in Kenwood on Saturday, July 3, with the second annual community BBQ celebration at the Kenwood Depot on Warm Springs Rd.

Festivities start at 3 p.m. with appetizers, crowning of the Kenwood King and Queen, games such as the three-legged race, seed spitting contest and egg toss, as well as the famous pie contest.

From 5-7 p.m. dine on barbequed hot dogs, sausages and burgers, various side dishes and salads, and enjoy wine, beer and other beverages. A silent auction will be ongoing until 7 p.m. During this time, the winner of the pie contest will be announced and showered with accolades.

The Kenwood Community Club is pleased to have favorite local band Ten Foot Tone, featuring Jon Williams, perform from 7 to 10 p.m.

Tickets, $10 each, are available at Vita Bella, the Kenwood Press, Kenwood Market, and Oakmont Market. Tickets at the door will be $15, so buy yours ahead of time. There will be an additional cost for beer and wine.

Bring the family and come on over to the Depot for hometown holiday fun!

Footraces

When you wake up the morning of July 4, you’re going to either want to 1) go for a run or walk, 2) eat pancakes, or 3) do both!

For the 39th year the Empire Runners will be hosting the annual Kenwood Foot Race. There is a 10K and a 3K, and everyone is invited to run or walk. This is considered the oldest and most prestigious road race in Sonoma County.

With your registration fee, you get a high quality T-shirt, souvenir glassware, and $5 off the Kenwood Community Church Pancake Breakfast when you show them your bib number.

Registration before July 4 is $30 for adults, $20 for youth 10-18, and $5 for children. On July 2 and July 3 you can register at Fleet Feet Sports, 12 to 7 p.m. on Friday, and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday. On July 4, race day registration (at Plaza Park) begins at 6 a.m. and costs $40 for adults, and $30 for youth and children. The races start at 7:30 a.m.

Pancake breakfast

After you finish the races, or if you’re just getting up, go over to the Kenwood Community Church for its annual community pancake breakfast. The historic church, built in 1880, is one of the jewels of Kenwood, steeped in history and located right off of Plaza Park.

The July 4th Pancake Breakfast is now in its 16th year. Kenwood Community Church concentrates on serving breakfast to the morning crowd of over 1,000 runners who participate in the Kenwood Foot Race, and their families who cheer them on, as well as anyone else in the community who wants a hearty breakfast to start off Independence Day.

There is also a silent auction, with items generously donated by many local businesses and individuals.

Proceeds from the breakfast and silent auction support the maintenance needs of the church and its historic structures so that it remains a community treasure.

No parade this year

There is no parade this year, or any organized activities in Plaza Park afterwards. But folks are already talking about organizing events for next year, so if the parade is important to you, let the Kenwood Press know, and we can help get all you like-minded people together.

As for this year, we encourage anyone who wants to have an impromptu picnic to show up at Plaza Park with food, Frisbees, and a celebratory attitude, and just have some good ol’ American unorganized fun.

Evening fireworks? Head to Sonoma off of Spain Street before dark. It’s always a great show. Call 938-4626, ext. 1, for more information.

Or, you can go to the Sonoma County Fairgrounds in Santa Rosa for fireworks. Gates open at 4 p.m., with fireworks at 9:30 p.m. $7 for adults and kids 13 years of age and up; $3 for kids 6-12; children 5 and under are free.