By Darion Strugs, Sparks Tribune Correspondent
The biggest Fourth of July celebration in Sparks is the 19th annual Star Spangled Sparks event in the Victorian Square. The event is hosted by the Nugget Casino Resort and goes from 4 p.m. until 10 p.m.
This is a great way to spend the day with friends and family. Bring picnic chairs but be sure to leave the pets and glass bottles at home as there will be food and drinks there.
The Independence Day celebration is full of activities, beginning with food and craft vendor booths that will open at 4 p.m. An hour after that, the live music will start with The Garage Boys being the main feature. The night is capped off with a fireworks show starting around 9:30 p.m., weather permitting. No need to worry though as the night is forecasted to be beautiful with temperatures in the high 70s or low 80s.
The Star Spangled Sparks event is free to the public but for there are VIP Viewing tickets that are $50 plus tax. The VIP tickets give access to the VIP Viewing area that has a great view, along with a buffet full of picnic-style food and drink, that is open from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.
The Nugget is insisting that instead of driving to the event, people should exercise the other modes of transportation available. The Nugget Casino Resort will provide free shuttle services via RTC and West Charter from 6 p.m. until midnight. The RTC shuttle will pick up passengers from the RSCVA Convention Center in lot C and parking in the Convention Center is free. The West Charter shuttle will pick up passengers from 204 Edison Way in Sparks.
There are multiple options for those who want to ride their bikes to the event too. Throughout the city, LimeBike will have bikes staged at three locations –Sparks City Hall, the Sparks Marina and the Larry D. Johnson Community Center. There are two bike drop-off locations, one on each side of Victorian Square. One bike drop-off is just west of the RTC Centennial Plaza and the other is on the east end of the event at the Memorial Park. For those who don’t want to pay for LimeBike and would rather ride their own bikes to the event, there is a free bike valet being offered for the duration of the event. The valet, provided by Sparks Kiwanis, is on the corner of 11th Street and Victorian. Public transportation is always available through the regular RTC transit, for two dollars.
The Star Spangled Sparks event is surely one that is one that should not be missed.
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