Independence Thinking

The tiny town of Glendale has been doing a bang-up job of celebrating July 4th for years – though its festivities, which always fall a day before or after Independence Day, never compete with all those municipalities that shoot off their own spectaculars on the holiday proper. The date isn’t the only convenience; last year, the Glendale Whole Foods Market added an old-fashioned cookout on its patio – which also happened to provide prime fireworks viewing for well-served patrons.

The Whole Foods Market Fireworks Feast, a foodie/fireworks match made in the heavens, is back this year, with even more entertainment opportunities while everyone waits for the sun to go down and the fireworks to go off. There’ll be brats, burgers (meat and veggie), salads, snacks and desserts available for a nominal price; face-painting and other free activities for kids; and live funk fusion by the Byron Shaw Projex Band. And if your chair falls off the market patio, there’s plenty of room for overflow in the parking lot, where families with blankets and lawn chairs can stake out prime patches for the fireworks show that commences at 9 p.m.

The Feast fest starts at 5 p.m. today; visit www.wholefoodsmarket.com/stores/coloradoblvd/ for information.
Fri., July 3, 5-10 p.m., 2009