The Fourth of July is about celebrating that we live in a country where we are free to do as we please. Say what you will, but compared to the rest of the world, we’ve really got the freedom thing going on. Let’s appreciate it, exploit it and love it to the fullest. (And fight for more freedoms, too! But maybe not today…I’m kind of busy.) For starters, head over to Makawao Town for the big parade on Saturday morning (July 3, 9am-noon), and spend the day appreciating (and maybe mocking, or appreciatively mocking) parade performers and patrons alike. Hard not to love horses and riders bedecked in all their paniolo finery, a classic car show, kiddos marching in formation with banners, Shriner men zooming about on tiny electric scooters and, of course, schmoozing politicians. Too, the Haiku Hillbillys will be on hand to lend mood-appropriate tunes. And, right up the road at Oskie Rice Arena, the most liberated (read: drunk or fatalistic) ones will mount bucking broncos and rope calves with gusto. The younger ones are fearless, too. Keiki atop horses five times their size will tackle obstacle courses, doing leaps, jumps and the whole she-bang. If you’re having such a good time with Makawao’s paniolo party people that you can’t bear to leave, stick around Saturday evening for “Spurlesque” at Casanova (9pm, $10 cover). It’s more than Kit Kat Club Cabaret’s cleverly named hoedown shindig. With the gents on one side and the ladies on the other, this old-fashioned country night takes on a modern, sexy twist with the belly-dancing beauties, Karli, Kristyn and Brooke, alongside Swing Maui and Jason Wulf, who can teach you and your date how to swing. Oh, and some guy named Trevor Arnholt is going to dress up as Yankee Doodle Dandy! Why? Because he can. If your stay ends up extended to the next night, too (the rodeo continues, after all), right across the street, Stopwatch is hosting a Makawao Sunday Jam (5-9pm, free). Stop by and say hello to all the cowboys enjoying a pint… Back to the Fourth, it’s sure to be a sultry night in Lahaina Town. Stars light the curves of lonesome waves when suddenly, reds, blues and gold explode overhead! Illuminated now are the smooth, white nuances of the crystal ocean, as his finger brushes hers… paperback romance novel enough for you? Thought so. In honor of the holiday and exciting fireworks show, Front Street closes to traffic at 4pm on Sunday, so all the happy little spectators can flood in. The fireworks themselves will start at 8pm; it’s fun to watch the show from the boat pier, the beach right below Front Street or from the park next to the library. This year, you can also buy tickets (AECG benefit, price TBA, call 357-0920) to the Old Oyster Bar and Rooftop at 744 Front Street, where the only rooftop party in Lahaina will provide a prime spot to view the fireworks, drink cocktails and enjoy BBQ and pupus from Lulu’s Lahaina. Plus, live music and dancing featuring Jamallad, the Haiku Hillbililys, Sheryl Renee and DJ sets by Nadi and Nate Castro. They also plan on throwing some patriotism into the mix, with a “surprise” reading of the Declaration of Independence, watermelon eating and seed spitting contests, as well as a Best Pie in Lahaina Town Bake-off. My advice? Do all of it. Actually, just do whatever you feel like doing. Freedom, right? I mean, we can buy multi-colored explosives right next to the fruit aisle at Foodland. If that isn’t freedom, I don’t know what is.
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