July 4 Calendar (6/27)

Independence Day Celebrations on Friday, July 4

Ahwatukee Recreation Center 4th of July Celebration: 1-4 p.m., 5001 E. Cheyenne Drive. Features music, food and fun. (480) 893-2549 or www.arcaz.net.

2008 Red, White and Boom ~ A Star Spangled Shootout! Fireworks Celebration: gates open at 5:30 p.m., Rawhide at Wild Horse Pass , 5700 W. North Loop Road, in partnership with the Ahwatukee Foothills Chamber of Commerce.

Enjoy the hustle and bustle of this exciting 1880s Western town complete with cowboys, gunfights, barbecue food items, live music, decorated buggy rides, face painting, balloon sculpturing, a best dressed cowboy costume contest and a fireworks display. Bring your blankets and chairs to settle in for what promises to be a spectacular aerial fireworks display. At 9:15 p.m., the Gila River Indian Community Color Guard will walk in the flags and start the Star Spangled Banner to kick off the fireworks show at 9:30 p.m. Admission to Rawhide and parking are free. Tickets are available for pre-sale through the chamber. Tickets are $15 for Rawhide town passes, $5 for arena and lawn firework seating, $4 for single attractions, $18 for a town pass and fireworks seating, $65 for a family pass of up to six town passes and fireworks seating, and $3 for child's fireworks seating. (480) 753-7676, (480) 502-5600 or www.rawhide.com.

D-backs to celebrate July 4 during game

The Arizona Diamondbacks will celebrate Independence Day by hosting Military Day and presenting a post-game fireworks show during the 6:40 p.m. July 4 game against the San Diego Padres. The first 25,000 fans through the gates will receive commemorative D-backs Fourth of July T-shirts.

Fans can purchase individual tickets at the Chase Field ticket office, by calling (602) 514-8400 or online at www.dbacks.com.

Free hot dog with cool waves: 1-3 p.m. (while supplies last), Kiwanis Recreation Center, 6111 South All-America Way, Tempe. Regular admission to the wave pool is $6, $3 for those 2-12 years old. Children under 8 must have an adult with them at all times while in the water. Midday hours are 3-5 p.m. and regular admission is $4, $2 for those 2-12 years old (no other discounts apply with mid-day rates). (480) 350-5201, (480) 350-5050 TTY or www.tempe.gov/kiwanis.

Chandler 4th of July 7UP Fireworks Spectacular: 4 p.m., Tumbleweed Park, southwest corner of McQueen and Germann roads, Chandler. Fireworks start at 9:30 p.m. The Cactus Bike Push, Pull, Peddle Bike Parade will begin at 6 p.m. The participant with the best decorated bike will win a Harro children's bike. Participants can register for the free parade through July 3 at any Cactus Bike location, or at the park on July 4 from 4 to 5:30 p.m. For bike parade details, contact the Cactus Bike Ocotillo location at (480) 782-5483 or the Ahwatukee location at (480) 940-7433. Admission to the park is free, and on-site event parking is $5 per vehicle. (480) 782-2735.

CBS5 July 4th Tempe Town Lake Festival: 4 to 11 p.m., Tempe Beach Park, Rio Salado Parkway and Mill Avenue. Festivities include the SRP 57th Annual Fireworks Spectacular displaying fireworks choreographed to patriotic and classical music; live local entertainment. Reduced price advance tickets are available through July 3 at www.GetTix.net., by calling (866) 443-8849, in check-out lines in any Valley Fry's and Fry's Marketplace locations, at all TruWest Credit Union branches, or by visiting www.tempe4th.com for city of Tempe ticket outlets. Full-priced tickets can be purchased on the day of the event at the gate from 4 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. or until capacity in the park has been reached. Tickets are $5 each at Tempe outlet sales, $6 each in advance at TruWest Credit Union branches, Fry's and Fry's Marketplace, $8 each or two for $15 at the gate on event day, free for children 12 and younger. A limited number of tickets are available giving access to the Veolia Transportation VIP area - $75 for adults and $50 for children ages 5-12. For tickets go to www.GetTix.net, and for more information call (480) 350-5189.

Complete event details are available online at www.tempe4th.com.

‘Old-fashioned 4th of July at the Rockin' R Ranch

Celebrate July 4 at the Rockin' R Ranch with an all-you-can-eat barbecue beef or chicken dinner, a patriotic show by the world famous Rockin' R Wranglers and an amazing fireworks display.

The ranch opens at 5:30 p.m. with shops, saloon, free watermelon, gold panning, and wagon rides. Dinner is served at 6:30 p.m., with fireworks following the dinner show.

Tickets are $29 for adults, $27 for seniors (65+), $19 for children ages 3 to 12 and free for children 2 and younger.

For reservations, call (480) 832-1539.