Sedona, Clarkdale and Cottonwood are gearing up Independence Day events for Thursday, July 4.

Sedona

The city of Sedona will offer a pool party for families from noon to 4 p.m. at the Sedona Community Pool at 570 Posse Grounds Road.

“In addition to swimming at the pool, outside the pool area there will also be music by DJ Frsh, food and treats [are] available for sale … a wet zone, games, a free hourly raffle with prizes, dunk tank and much more,” a press release stated. “Recreational swim will be limited to 300 people at one time, but festivities outside the pool gate will not be limited. Swim attire is required for pool use, and water shoes or other secure foot covering is recommended for the wet zone.”

The event will feature inflatable games, water slides and a pie-eating contest at 1, 2 and 3 p.m. Raffle prizes will include Parks and Recreation water bottles.

“It will be the coolest place in Sedona for the day for fun and it’s free,” Athletics and Aquatics Supervisor Carmen Brashier said.

City pool hours for the remains of the regular season have been expanded to 9 a.m. to 5:15 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Call(928) 282-7098 or visitsedonaaz.gov.

The Sedona Elks Lodge will be hosting a barbecue from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 110 Airport Road. The cost of a plate is $20 and includes a choice of a hamburger, hotdog or bratwurst with side items.

“Music will be provided by Relix, a newly-formed band consisting of Dale Caddell, Joey Cruz, Jeff Scrima and Gary Renzetti, playing all of your favorite classic rock tunes,” the lodge stated in a press release. “There will be plenty of room to dance.” 

Call (928) 282-7571 or visit SedonaElks.org.

Clarkdale

Clarkdale’s annual Old- Fashioned Fourth of July celebration will return to the Town Park at 1001 Main Street from 7 to 11 a.m. Typically about 2,000 people attend.

“The kids’ parade is the star of the show,” Town Public Information Officer Chell Smart said. “We want to focus on getting that attendance back up past the point it was before 2020 … We want to invite all the kids in the Verde Valley out, to have kids come out with their bicycles and wagons and bring their families. They just get dressed up and they win cash prizes, they get their ribbons.”

The festivities will start with the raising of the colors by the Veterans of

Foreign Wars Post No. 7400 followed by remarks from Clarkdale Mayor Robyn Prud’homme-Bauer. From 7 a.m. to 9 a.m., the Clarkdale Police Department and Verde Valley Fire District will offer a pancake breakfast at a cost of $6 for adults and $4 for children 12 and younger. The latter will also offer free rides on their antique fire truck and the Clarkdale Historical Society will host an ice cream social as a fundraiser.

The annual Kids’ Parade will get underway at 9 a.m. from Clarkdale-Jerome School at 1615 Main Street down to Clarkdale Town Park. Winners will be announced at 9:40 a.m.

“Those interested in participating must register beginning at 8:15 a.m. at the Clarkdale-Jerome School,” the town stated. There is no registration prior to the day of the event and no cost. The parade is limited to children aged 18 years and under.

Free children’s games will be offered and the Cottonwood Community Band will perform live music starting at 10 a.m.

Attendees “get to celebrate Fourth of July early while it’s cool in the day, and then they move on to go to things in Sedona or Cottonwood with their family,” Smart said.

Contact the Town of Clarkdale Parks and Recreation Department at (928) 639-2460 or parks.rec@clarkdale.az.gov, or visit clarkdale.az.gov/fourthofjuly.

Cottonwood

The only fireworks in the Verde Valley can be viewed during the city of Cottonwood Parks and Recreation Department’s Fantastic Family Fourth of July, 4 to 9:30 p.m. at the Cottonwood Kids Park at 350 S. 12th Street.

The fireworks show starts at 9 p.m.

“It’s an event that … brings the community together to [get] all united in kind of one purpose to show our love for our nation. And it’s not too often that we see such a big gathering in the communities,” Parks and Recreation Special Events and Community Programs Coordinator Travis Wilson said.

The event draws between 3,000 and 5,000 attendees. Entrance is $10 and parking is $1 per vehicle. Food will be free from 4 to 6 p.m. including hot dogs, watermelon and soft drinks, with additional food truck options such as ice cream, snacks and Mexican. The $10 wristband will give admission to a bounce house, water slide and more. Call (928) 639-3200 or visit cottonwoodaz.gov.