Events Roundup: Happy Fourth, and beyond

Independence Day is upon us, and people in our local communities have organized several options for celebrating:

For the early risers, the American Legion 5K Firecracker Fun Run is from 6-8 a.m. today at the Idaho County Veterans Outreach & Community Center, 318 E. Main St., Grangeville.

Registration, $15 is at bit.ly/firecrackergrangeville.

The Lewis Clark Community Concert Band will perform from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. today at the Pioneer Park bandshell, 203 Fifth St., Lewiston, directed by Brendan Burns.

Selections include a variety of patriotic favorites, including John Philip Sousa’s “The Stars and Stripes Forever” and “The Washington Post March.”

The concert is free, but donations will be accepted.

The Moscow Community Band takes the celebration into the weekend with a concert from 10:30 a.m. to noon Saturday in Friendship Square, at Fourth and Main streets.

The group will play a selection of traditional marches and patriotic songs, under the direction of Bruce Bradberry.

That concert also is by donation.

A Fourth of July Day of Fun organized by the Asotin County Republican Central Committee is set for noon to 4 p.m. today at Vernon Park, Sixth and Chestnut streets in Clarkston.

Activities include face painting, horseshoes, lawn darts and rock painting.

Area fireworks shows include Lewiston’s Community Spirit Fireworks show, at 10 p.m. tonight. The aerial fireworks can be viewed from points throughout the Lewiston-Clarkston Valley, with accompanying patriotic music broadcast by McVey Entertainment radio stations 106.9 FM, 105.1 FM, 95.5 FM and 96.5 FM.

To make the show more visible from a distance, organizers have added more 4-and 5-inch shells, which are more expensive, so the show will be a bit shorter than in past years, according to a news release.

There is no pre-show concert, and Adams Field at Clarkston High School will be closed to the public during the show.

Ice cream will be served at a watch party organized by the folks at Lewiston First United Methodist Church, starting at 9:30 p.m. at 1906 Broadview Drive. Attendees should bring a chair.

Festivities begin at 5 p.m. today for Pullman’s Fourth of July celebration at Sunnyside Park, 147 SW Cedar St.

The Pullman Chamber and Visitor Center event includes food by the Lumberyard, popcorn and cotton candy, live music and, at the end of the evening, fireworks.

Once all the Fourth festivities are over, how about a night with the Rocketman (or something close)?

Billed as the world’s No. 1 Elton John tribute band, Tom Cridland’s crew will play the Kenworthy Performing Arts Centre at 7 p.m. Wednesday, including convincing covers of hits like “Bennie and the Jets,” “Tiny Dancer,” “Rocket Man” and “Candle In The Wind.”

Cridland, who plays the part of Elton John on lead vocals and piano, is a friend of Elton John drummer Nigel Olsson, according to a news release, and has recorded songs and episodes of his Greatest Music of All Time Podcast with Elton John guitarist Davey Johnstone. He met Sir Elton himself, and Cridland credits the superstar with helping him recover from alcoholism.

More information about Cridland and his Elton John shows is at tomcridland.com.
Tickets, $25-$35, are at kenworthypac.square.site.

Find more to do in the events calendar starting at inland360.com/events.