Petaluma celebrates Independence Day

Petaluma celebrates the Fourth of July with a busy weekend of family friendly festivities. Here is what’s happening.

Fourth of July breakfast

Veterans of Foreign Wars Petaluma Post 1929 holds its annual Fourth of July breakfast from 8 a.m. to noon at the Petaluma Veterans Memorial Building, 1094 Petaluma Blvd. South.

The breakfast features french toast, scrambled eggs, sausages, pastries, coffee and juice.

Tickets are $6 adults, $5 kids 12 and under. Tickets will be available at the door or by calling 773-3610.

Fourth of July Bell Ringing Ceremony

Petaluma’s annual Fourth of July Bell Ringing Ceremony takes place on the steps of the Petaluma Museum, 20 Fourth St.

According to the history of the ceremony provided by the Petaluma Museum, the bell came into possession of Miriam McNear Korbel when the Korbel Lumber Company was shut down. When the Korbel family home was sold, Korbel gave the bell to Rutherford Putnam. It sat in the garage until his wife, Helen Putnam (Petaluma’s first woman mayor), learned about a movement to get bells ringing across the U.S. at the same time on the Fourth of July. Putnam thought this was the ideal purpose for the Korbel bell.

In 1962, the Putnams mounted the bell on an A frame. They held a ceremony in their yard, and invited the public to come ring the bell at 11 a.m. to coincide with the 2 p.m. bell ringing time on the East Coast.

The Fourth of July bell-ringing ceremony was officially endorsed by President John F. Kennedy in 1963, and a resolution to that effect was passed in Congress.

The ceremony has since been moved to the Petaluma Museum, but it has been held every year since its start in 1962.

Petaluma’s Fourth of July bell ringing ceremony begins at 10:30 a.m., with the bell ringing at 11 a.m.

There will be cookies and lemonade after the bell ringing. Admission is free.

For more information, visit petalumamuseum.com.

Fourth of July fireworks

Petaluma’s Fourth of July community celebration and fireworks show “Rock and Rockets” will be held at the Sonoma-Marin Fairgrounds, 175 Fairgrounds Drive.

Gates will open at 5 p.m. with festivities including live music, food, games and activities for kids.

The Killer Queens, an all-female Queen cover band, is scheduled to perform. Along with them is the Mark Weston Band, a conglomeration of local rock musicians who are teaming up to perform for the event.

The fireworks show begins at dusk (between 9:30 and 10 p.m.) Admission is $5 general, kids under 10 admitted free.

Call 824-8717 for details.

Penngrove Parade

Parade entries are being accepted for Penngrove’s 39th annual “Biggest Little Parade,” which steps off at 11 a.m. July 5 in downtown Penngrove.

After the parade, there will be a barbecue and live music by Charley Baker in Penngrove Park from noon to 4 p.m. There will be kids’ games, a slide and raffle prizes. Tickets may be purchased at the barbecue. No pets are allowed.

Proceeds from the barbecue support maintenance and improvements to Penngrove Park, the club house and Penngrove 4-H.

Parade entries will be accepted until 5 p.m. July 1. There’s no entry free of theme. Applications are available at JavAmore Cafe, 10101 Main St. in Penngrove or call 794-1516, or email mrsjjava@hotmail.

In addition to the parade and barbecue, the Adobe Fire Department holds its annual pancake breakfast from 7 to 11 a.m. July 4 at the Rancho Adobe Fire Station, 11000 Main St. in Penngrove.

The breakfast features pancakes, bacon, eggs, fruit and juice.

Tickets are available at the door and are $8 adults, $6 children 12 and under.

For more information, call 795-6011.