An American Legion color guard marches in the Fourth of July parade on Tuesday, July 4, 2017 in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Ben Boettger/Peninsula Clarion) An American Legion color guard marches in the Fourth of July parade on Tuesday, July 4, 2017 in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Ben Boettger/Peninsula Clarion, file)

An American Legion color guard marches in the Fourth of July parade on Tuesday, July 4, 2017 in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Ben Boettger/Peninsula Clarion) An American Legion color guard marches in the Fourth of July parade on Tuesday, July 4, 2017 in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Ben Boettger/Peninsula Clarion, file)

Looking for something to do on the Fourth of July? Here are some of the local celebrations

The United States celebrates its 242nd birthday on Wednesday. There are plenty of ways to celebrate it on the central Kenai Peninsula, from parades to farm tours to stock car races. Here are some of the events happening on the Fourth of July this year.

Kenai

The annual Fourth of July parade begins at 11 a.m. and will last between an hour and an hour a half. Starting at Fidalgo Avenue, the parade will take a left on Willow Street, a right on Kenai Spur Highway and then a right on Main Street Loop. Afterward, the Midway festivities move to the Kenai Park Strip where there will be live music from Troubadour North, a beer garden featuring Kassik’s Brewery beer, a children’s carnival, local art and food vendors and a bounce house, a feature the Fourth of July festivities haven’t had in about six years.

For the 35th year in a row, the Kenai Senior Connection, the fundraising organization for the Kenai Senior Center, will sell strawberry rhubarb and apple pie, hot dogs and drinks at the festival.

The Hometown Heroes, a festival mainstay, will be back again, Johna Beech, president and COO of the Kenai Chamber of Commerce, said.

“It’s our way of acknowledging any locals that served in the military,” Beech said.

What’s more American than baseball? The Peninsula Oilers will be playing the Mat-Su Miners in their Fourth of July game. The Oilers will be walking in the parade before the game at 7 p.m. at the field at 103 S. Tinker Lane, Kenai. Admission will be free.

Twin City Raceway-Circle Track Division will be hosting the Stock Car Filthy Fifty. The 50 lap race starts at 6 p.m. and runs until 9 p.m. at 7075 Shotgun Road, Kenai. Tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for children, students, and seniors. Free for children seven and under and military.

The weekly farm tour and campfire devotional at Diamond M Ranch are for children of all ages. Starting at the farm’s office, the guided tour of the original homestead and farm begins with chances to see the sheep, llamas, and calves up close and personal. The tour is followed by a campfire social and devotional. The tour begins at 6:45 p.m. and the campfire devotional at 8 p.m. at Diamond M Ranch, 48500 Diamond M Ranch Road, Kenai. The tour is free for guests of the resort and is $5 for the public.

Soldotna

The Soldotna Wednesday Market will hold its weekly event with art and food vendors from around the peninsula. There will be live music from Mike Morgan, The Lack Family, and Greg Crawford. The Cupiit Yurartet Drummers and Dancers will also be performing. The event runs from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Soldotna Creek Park and is free and for all ages.

Anchorage folk-rock band Blackwater Railroad Company will be performing for the July 4 Music in the Park series from 6 to 9 p.m. at Soldotna Creek Park. The event is free and for all ages.

Reach Victoria Petersen at vpetersen@peninsulaclarion.com.

More in News

Nikiski teachers, students and parents applaud Nikiski Middle/High Principal Mike Crain as he’s recognized as the Alaska Association of Secondary School Principals 2025 Region III Principal of the Year by the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District’s Board of Education during their meeting in Soldotna, Alaska, on Monday, Feb. 3, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Nikiski principal named Region III principal of the year

Crain has served as Nikiski’s principal for three years.

An 86 pound Kenai River king salmon is measured in Soldotna, Alaska, on June 29, 1995. (M. Scott Moon/Peninsula Clarion File)
Kenai River king salmon fishing closed entirely for 3rd year

Kenai River king salmon were designated a stock of management concern in 2023.

The Kenai Peninsula College Main Entrance on Aug. 18, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
University of Alaska Board of Regents to meet in Soldotna

The last time the board met on the Kenai Peninsula was April 2012.

Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Board of Education member Penny Vadla and student representative Emerson Kapp speak to the joint Alaska House and Senate education committees in Juneau, Alaska, on Monday, Feb. 10, 2025. (Screenshot courtesy Gavel Alaska/KTOO)
KPBSD among dozens of districts to deliver in-person testimony to Alaska Legislature

Districts spotlighted programs already lost over years of stagnant funding that hasn’t met inflationary pressure.

Rep. Bill Elam, R-Nikiski, speaks during a town hall meeting hosted by his office at the Nikiski Community Recreation Center in Nikiski, Alaska, on Saturday, Feb. 8, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Education dominates Elam’s 1st town hall as state rep

Education funding dominated much of the conversation.

Kenai Middle School Principal Vaughn Dosko points out elements of a redesign plan for the front of the school on Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2022, in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Work soon to begin on Kenai Middle security upgrades

The security upgrades are among several key KPBSD maintenance projects included in a bond approved by borough voters in October 2022.

The Kenai Fire Department headquarters are photographed on Feb. 13, 2018, in Kenai, Alaska. (Peninsula Clarion file)
Kenai adds funds, authorizes contract for study of emergency services facility

The building shared by Kenai’s police and fire departments hasn’t kept up with the needs of both departments, chief says.

Kenai Parks and Recreation Director Tyler Best shows off a new inclusive seesaw at Kenai Municipal Park in Kenai, Alaska, on Thursday, June 27, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Kenai awards contract to develop Parks and Rec master plan

The document is expected to guide the next 20 years of outdoors and recreation development in the city.

Balancing Act’s homepage for the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District’s Fiscal Year 2026 Budget. (Screenshot)
KPBSD launches ‘Balancing Act’ software, calls for public to balance $17 million deficit

The district and other education advocates have said that the base student allocation has failed to keep up with inflation.

Most Read