Yuma County celebrates Friday, Saturday

From fireworks to a demolition derby to music and games, there's plenty of excitement for Yuma County residents over the Fourth of July holiday weekend.

The festivities begin  Friday night when the Quechan Casino Resort and Paradise Casino celebration begins at 7 at Paradise Casino in Winterhaven. Admission is free, and music will be by the reggae band Tribal Seeds. Kids' games will also be provided and a motorcycle stunt show will be from 7 to 9 p.m. Fireworks will follow.

The Cocopah Casino, 15318 S. Avenue B, will host its celebration from 5 p.m. to midnight Saturday. A free concert will feature Cat Daddy, along with free watermelon and kids' games. There will also be food vendors and fireworks.

More observances and festivities begin at 7:30 a.m. Saturday when the Caballeros de Yuma host the 23rd annual flag-raising ceremony, complete with seating and refreshments, at the Yuma Armed Forces Park, 291 S. Gila St.

The Yuma Territorial Prisonaires will sing "The Star Spangled Banner," after which the Vietnam Veterans of America, Yuma Chapter 835, will perform a gun salute. Col. Mark Werth, commander of Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, will be guest speaker.

At 9 a.m. Saturday, the 48th annual Independence Day Parade will begin with the Pledge of Allegiance at Christ Lutheran Church, 2555 S. Engler Ave. The parade will travel through Engler Estates and San Marcos Villas.

The Yuma County Fairgrounds, 2520 E. 32nd St., will host a Fourth of July celebration beginning at 6 p.m. Admission is $3 per person, with kids 6 and under admitted for free.

Free kids' games and a watermelon bust will be held until 8 p.m., when the demolition derby starts. The fireworks display will be at dusk.

San Luis, Ariz.,. will have a Fourth of July event from at 5 p.m. to 1 a.m. at Joe Orduno Park, located at Park Avenue and Juan Sanchez Boulevard. There will be live music by Los Apson and Flashback, and a fireworks display will be featured. Admission is free.

Somerton's celebration will begin at 7 p.m. at Perricone Park. Live entertainment and about 30 food vendors will be featured.

In Wellton, a celebration will begin at 6:30 p.m. at Butterfield Park. American Legion Post 69 will perform a flag-raising ceremony at 7, and a fireworks display begins at dusk. Food will be provided.