Wellington parade, fireworks highlight busy July

The height and the heat of the summer has arrived. Here are some events that will add to your enjoyment of it all.

The No. 1 not-to-miss event is the giant Wellington Fourth of July Parade that begins at 10 a.m. and winds its way from Wellington Boulevard east on Cleveland Avenue. The theme for this year’s parade is “Salute Freedom,” and entrants will be judged in three categories: floats, auto (motorized) and walking. Three prizes will be awarded in each category for originality, creativity, workmanship and appearance. Those interested in participating in the parade can complete a form on the Town of Wellington website under the “Forms” section. Cost is $5 per pre-registered entry and $10 each on the day of the parade. Entrants will line up between 7 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. Judging will be conducted at 8:30 a.m.

Stay busy all day on the Fourth of July with events in Wellington beginning with a 7 a.m. pancake breakfast at the Filling Station at Fourth Street and Cleveland Avenue, followed by the parade. Then the Northern Colorado Plains Car and Truck Show will be held between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. at the North Ball Field. A block north of Washington Avenue, off County Road 7, come see the dirt drag races, antique tractor pull and tractor show at 1 p.m. Don’t miss the lawnmower races on the east side of Sixth Street, just north of Grant Avenue also at 1 p.m.

There will be all kinds of family fun at Library Park and South Ball Field on Wilson Avenue. A beer garden, vendors and food will be available between 11 a.m. and 8 p.m. From 11:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., there will be live music by “Barely Getting By.” Check out the kids’ zone between noon and 2 p.m. at the library. There will be a cake/cookie walk and inflatable area until 6 p.m. At 3 p.m., there will be a free ice cream social. At dusk, gather for the Town of Wellington’s fireworks show near Library Park. Bring your own lawn chairs or blankets.

Stop by the Wellington Farmers’ Market, open Thursday nights 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Centennial Park at Third Street and Harrison. The F.A.C.E. band is featured on July 2. You’ll find fruit and veggies, meat, honey and sauces, bread and baked goods, snacks and popcorn, jewelry, craft, body and wellness items and lots of friendly faces. The theme for family night on July 16 is animals.

The Second Annual Carol Ludwig Loyer Memorial Art Show will take place July 24 and 25 at Virginia Dale Overland Stage Station. Head for the hills to enjoy the work of area artists, live music, wine and cheese tasting, craft beer, brats and the opportunity to support the on-going efforts to support the preservation of this historic building. Call Bill Loyer at 307-634-8818 or Richard Gutkowski at 970-430-1798 for more information.

The Fort Collins Lincoln Center Support League continues its free outdoor series for children on the Lincoln Center lawn at 10:30 a.m. on July 8, featuring Doctor Noize, singer, multi-instrumentalist and one-man band. He encourages kids to have their own act and be a big star! On July 15, Katherine Dines will engage audiences with movement, story songs, sign language, sing-alongs, percussion and zany props in her Hunk-Ta-Bunk-Ta show at 10:30 a.m. Attendees are encouraged to bring a blanket or lawn chair, sunscreen and protective clothing. There will be prizes at each show.

Fans of bowhunting and outdoor films will want to catch the 2015 Full Draw Film Tour, an exclusive line up of short films, on July 17 in the Lincoln Center Magnolia Room. Doors open at 6 p.m., show starts at 7 p.m. Tickets are $14 or $10 for children 12 and younger.

The popular and talented local group, The Mostlies, will present a musical comedy parody revue, The Farce Awakens, starting July 24 and running through Aug. 2. The local group that writes its own shows and has been around since 1993 More than two decades later, the group is dusting off a previous show that focuses on politics, marijuana and craft brewing. All shows are held in the Lincoln Center Magnolia Theatre and start at 7 p.m. The cost is $15.

Tickets for all Lincoln Center events are available online from the Lincoln Center website at http://www.fcgov.com/lctix/box-office.php or by calling 970-221-6730.

The Candlelight Dinner Playhouse, 4747 Market Place Drive in Johnstown, is presenting Singin’ in the Rain through July 12 and initiates its eighth season with Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, a family-friendly show based on the much-loved 1968 movie about a car that flies through the air on July 23. For details and tickets, call the box office at 970-744-3747.

Midtown Arts Center, 3750 S. Mason St. in Fort Collins, is playing Oklahoma through Aug. 29. Tickets can be purchased by calling 970-225-2555.

The Comedy Brewers, Fort Collins’ homegrown improv group, is playing at Bas Bleu Theatre, 401 Pine St. in Fort Collins, on Sunday nights through July 10, 2016. For tickets, call 970-498-8949. Brewed locally, this group combines the fast pace of short-form improv games with long-form style that tells a story collaboratively. From short scenes to full-length epics, the Brewers entertain with rich characters and relationships.