ELK GROVE, CA (MPG) - The city of Elk Grove is gearing up for the nation’s birthday with its 20th annual Salute to the Red, White and Blue festival.

The free event will be held on the Fourth of July at Elk Grove Regional Park, from 5 to 10 p.m., with food, entertainment, a bike parade, and, of course, fireworks.

The festival will start at 5 p.m. with vendors and food trucks offering their wares for guests.

At 6 p.m., attendees can drape themselves and their bicycles in red, white and blue for the Let Freedom Ride Bike Parade.

“Folks can decorate their bicycles, strollers, tricycles, basically anything with wheels or if they want to decorate themselves, that’s fine, too,” said Jodie Moreno, the city’s community events program manager. A golf cart will play music and lead the parade participants around the lake.

At 7 p.m., Elk Grove City Council will take part in opening ceremonies. Hosting the ceremonies will be ABC 10 anchor Alex Bell. Elk Grove resident Martin Beal will sing “The Star-Spangled Banner,” with a burst of fireworks once he finishes.

Get ready for some catchy tunes at 7:30 p.m., when Agents of Rock takes the stage. The classic rock tribute band mixes rock inspirations such as Journey, the Eagles and Lynyrd Skynyrd with a “twist” of funk and pop from acts like Prince and Bruno Mars.

The moment everyone is waiting for comes after sunset, at 9:40 p.m., with the fireworks spectacular.

Moreno said the city wants to keep up the momentum it established last year, which was a return to form for the Independence Day celebration after the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Last year was the first full, huge shebang since we came out of COVID and we saw a lot of people come out, so we’re excited to have the same this year,” Moreno said. “We just want people to come out and have fun.”

Attendees can get to the event by car; parking at Elk Grove Park costs $10. Presenting sponsor Sky River Casino will hand out coupons to attendees at the park gate.

Moreno said gates open at 7 a.m. for those who want to get the best viewing spot for the fireworks. In-and-out parking privileges stop at 3 p.m. In addition, there will be road closures around the park; the details were not available by press time. 

The Sacramento Regional Transit District will offer two shuttle bus lines, taking visitors into the park from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. Stops are at various locations on Elk Grove Boulevard and certain streets to the south. Service leaving the park runs from 10 to 11 p.m.

Other than service animals, the city asks that guests not bring pets, due to high temperatures and to avoid stress from the fireworks.

Moreno said Salute to the Red, White and Blue exemplifies Elk Grove’s love for community festivals.

“We’re a city that likes to celebrate big and our Fourth of July celebration is one of the biggest events we host over the years, and it’s very family-friendly, it’s open to everyone, it’s all about family, fun, freedom and fireworks, and of course the food,” Moreno said. “I think that anyone that’s new to the area and comes to this event will see kind of the level of the event that we like to put on for our residents.”

For more information about Salute to the Red, White and Blue, the shuttle service and the road closures, visit elkgrovecity.org/4thofjuly.