Wave that flag! Celebrations sparkle all over

“This is going to be the biggest and best Fourth of July ever,” declares Tim Carr of the Scottsville Volunteer Fire Department. Carr is helping to organize his town’s Independence Day celebration that starts with a parade down Main Street at 11am.
The procession of floats, a fife and drum corps, political candidates, and the District 5 girl’s softball champions is only a part of this super star-spangled party.
At 6pm, folks are invited to bring a picnic basket to Dorrier Park for Rhythm on the River. This free outdoor concert presents the bluegrass sounds of Willow Branch followed by the popular Jan Smith Band. The evening ends with a bang as fireworks ignite the sky over the James River.
Sparks will fly over the City of Charlottesville too, despite the fact that this year’s fireworks nearly fizzled from lack of funding. McIntire Park will indeed glow this July Fourth with both pyrotechnics and pride, thanks to a partnership of private funding and public services that is really something to celebrate.
The festivities get started at 4pm and include an inflatable slide and moonwalk to keep the kids bouncing, live music, and food vendors (picnic baskets are also welcome). Fireworks are set to go off at about 9:15pm. 
The party lasts all weekend in Crozet, where the Volunteer Fire Department hosts their annual Fourth of July Carnival at Claudius Crozet Park. This family fair offers games, rides, food vendors, live bands, and bingo. Fireworks are featured on both Thursday and Saturday nights. Friday is family night where kids can ride all they want for one price.
And just to make things extra special, the fire trucks, twirlettes, boy scouts, Lions Club, and antique tractors–115 units in all– will parade down Crozet Avenue from the elementary school to the park on Saturday at 5pm. 
At Wintergreen Resort, the Fourth of July Jubilee is the biggest event of the year. This old-fashioned block party lasts all weekend with storytelling, an arts and crafts fair on Friday and Saturday, hayrides and hikes, face painting and sidewalk art, a free concert by the local Beatles tribute band #9 Dream, fireworks on Friday night, and oh, so much more.
This weekend there’s no excuse for not getting out to wave that flag and have a great time.

The town of Scottsville is due south on Rt. 20. 826-2623. Parking is prohibited at McIntire Park on the Rt. 250 bypass in Charlottesville, but free shuttle service is available from lots at K-Mart and the County Office Building, and handicapped parking is available at Walker Elementary School. You can also park at Charlottesville High School and walk across the bridge to the park or view the fireworks from the grassy knoll at the school. 970-3589. Crozet’s carnival happens from 6-11pm on July 3-5. 823-4758. Admission is free for the Wintergreen Jubilee July 4-6. Rt. 664 off Rt. 151 in Nelson County. 325-8180.