5 things: Happy Birthday, America! edition

Fourth of July isn’t until Sunday, but we all know the festivities will get underway right….abouuuuut…. now! Here are 5 ways to celebrate the good ol’ US of A this weekend — and just like last year’s edition, these are all free (or really, really close to it).

July 1, 2010; 6:00 AM • by Valerie Catrow

1. Genworth Financial 27th Annual Independence Day Concert

Start the holiday weekend off right with a performance from the United States Air Force Heritage of America Band, activities for the kids, and fireworks to close out the evening. Food vendors will also be there with all kinds of goodies.

Friday July 2 (doors open at 6:30pm, concert begins at 7:30pm; fireworks start at 8:45pm)
Genworth Financial Campus (6620 W. Broad Street)
Free!

2. Cinema Classic: 1776

You, you, you (and even you in the back, yes, you!) have the opportunity to see 1776 on the big screen on Fourth of July weekend. Thank you, America. Let’s watch a clip, shall we?

Voooooooooooote, yyyyyyyyyyes.

Friday, July 2 (7pm) and Saturday, July 3 (2pm and 7pm)
Henrico Theater (305 E. Nine Mile Road)
Free(ish). Ok, it’s $1. Totally worth it for a potential sing-along.

3. All-American Celebration at Lewis Ginter

It’s going to be beautiful this weekend, so you’d be a fool to miss the opportunity to spend it in one of Richmond’s most beautiful spots — and for free! Be sure to stop by the water play area and catch the live concert from the Happy Lucky Combo. Guests are also invited to wear red, white, and blue and bring wagons and strollers to take part in a Fourth of July parade around the Children’s Garden. Oh the cuteness that is sure to abound! Do you think any of the kids will be dressed as teeny, tiny founding fathers? Can someone make that happen?

Sunday, July 4 (9am to 5pm; see website for activities schedule)
Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden (1800 Lakeside Avenue)
Free! (Lewis Ginter normally costs $10 per person, so this is a great deal!)

4. Old-Fashioned Fourth of July Celebration

I’ve got four words for you: Uncle Sam on stilts. Yeah, that’s right. They’re also promising arts and crafts, face painting, a petting zoo for the kiddies, contests and games, pony rides, a watermelon feast, and more. Basically, you’re going to OD on nostalgia. And what the hell is wrong with that?

Sunday, July 4 (1pm to 5pm)
Meadow Farm Museum/Crump Park (3400 Mountain Road)
Free!

5. Independence Day Celebration at Dogwood Dell

There are tons of places to see fireworks in town on the big day, but this one gets our pick because, although it’s likely to be crazy-crowded, there’s something very Richmond about having Dogwood Dell as your stomping grounds for the evening. So load up the kiddies, lawn chairs, and blankets, and get ready to ooh and ahhh with lots (and lots and lots) of your fellow River City dwellers.

Sunday, July 4 (entertainment starts at 6:15pm; fireworks start at 7:15pm)
Dogwood Dell (Blanton Avenue)
Free!

For more events going on around town this holiday weekend, head over to our Events Calendar or stop by the RVANews Fourth of July Guide.

As the editor of RVANews, Valerie Catrow spends most of her time wrangling people over email and muttering to herself about the content calendar. She also contributes to our parenting column while maintaining her own blog, Made in Richmond. It should be noted that she loves tots, both the potato and child varieties.