Your Central Valley Fourth of July Weekend Guide, and a Very Happy 250th, America

Can you believe it is here already? Not just the Fourth of July, but the big one. This year America turns 250 years old. Two and a half centuries. That is a birthday worth celebrating loudly, and lucky for us, the Central Valley knows how to throw a party.

So before you fire up the grill, let me be your girl next door for a minute and walk you through where the fun is this weekend. I did the digging so you do not have to.

Let me start close to home, because Atwater always shows up. Friday, July 4, kicks off bright and early with the Run for Independence at 7:30 in the morning for the brave and the caffeinated. Then Ralston Park fills up from 9 to 4 with a festival the whole family can enjoy. When the sun goes down, the concert and the famous fireworks light up over at the Castle Commerce Center, with the band Flashback playing at 7. Bring a carload, because it is $15 per car or $5 to walk in. If you have never seen Atwater do the Fourth, you are missing something special.

Want fireworks over the water instead? Lake McClure hosts its Lights on the Lake show, with viewing areas opening at 6 and the display starting around 9 at dusk. There is something about fireworks reflecting off a lake that gets me every time. Los Banos, Livingston, Gustine, and Merced all have their own celebrations too, so wherever you are in the county, you are close to a good one.

Heading up into Stanislaus County? You have options. Downtown Modesto hosts the big Fourth of July parade at 9:30 in the morning, rolling up 10th Street with food and craft vendors nearby. Out at Woodward Reservoir, the county puts on its 30th annual fireworks celebration, with the big show around 9:30 at night. It is $40 per vehicle and it fills up fast, so pack the cooler and get there early. If baseball is more your speed, the Modesto Roadsters play at Modern Woodmen Field with fireworks after the game. And Turlock gets a head start on Friday, July 3, with a downtown parade at 6:30 followed by a festival at the fairgrounds.

Up in San Joaquin County, Stockton throws a free downtown parade at 10 in the morning, then a festival at Weber Point at 5 with the Stockton Symphony and fireworks at 9:30. Lodi starts the party early on July 2 at Hutchins Street Square, complete with a pancake breakfast and an evening show. Manteca honors its Vietnam veterans with a parade at 10. And Tracy lights up Legacy Fields in the evening. No matter which corner of our three counties you call home, there is a flag waving somewhere near you this weekend.

Now here is where the real estate lady in me sneaks in, just for a second.

Do you know what all these celebrations remind me of? Community. The kind you cannot put a price on. When people from the Bay Area and beyond ask me why families love it here, this weekend is my answer. Small towns that still do parades. Neighbors who save you a spot on the grass. Kids running around with sparklers while the older folks tell the same stories they tell every year.

And yes, our market is steady and healthy right now. Homes are taking a little longer to sell than they did during the frenzy, which means buyers have room to breathe and sellers who price well still do beautifully. If you own a median priced home here in Merced or anywhere in the valley, you may be sitting on more equity than you think. That is a conversation for another day though. This weekend is for hot dogs and fireworks, not spreadsheets.

Whether you are downsizing into your next chapter, thinking about selling, or perfectly happy right where you are, I hope your weekend is full of the people you love. Save room for pie. Wave that flag. And if the fireworks make you a little teary, well, you are in good company. I am a sucker for a good finale, the same way I tear up at the castle at the end of the night at Disneyland.

Happy 250th birthday, America. And happy Fourth to you and yours.

If you ever want to talk homes, timing, or just the best spot to watch fireworks, my door is always open. No pressure, ever.

I am your girl next door.

Kellie Leach, eXp Luxury, Serving Merced, Stanislaus, and San Joaquin Counties, (209) 628-1553, www.imyourgirlnextdoor.com