STORY AND PHOTO BY KAREN BOSSICK
Celebrate “Red, White and Blue 2022” as the city of Hailey rolls out the carpet for Fourth of July activities.
The Hailey’s Days of the Old West Independence Day parade starts at noon on July 4. And this quintessential hometown parade has roped in some new players, such as Joanne Wetherell and her RE/MAX.
Of course, the weekend in Hailey kicks off with the Hailey Antique Fair and Sawtooth Rangers Rodeo, both of which begin Saturday.
Riverfest follows the parade and then fireworks will explode at dusk from the usual area near Wood River High School in what traditionally draws more lodging guests than any other week of the year, according to Chamber Director Mike McKenna.
Here’s the lineup:
- Hailey Antique Fair—This year’s fair will feature a beer garden and mechanical bull riding in addition to those unique treasures. You’ll find it from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday and Saturday, July 2-3, and from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday at Roberta McKercher Park.
- Sawtooth Rangers Days of the Old West Rodeo—This professional rodeo celebrating its 75th anniversary will feature some of the best riders and stock in the country. The rodeo starts at 7:30 p.m. nightly Saturday through Monday, July 2-4, with pre-events starting at 6:30 p.m.
Kids 12 and under will be admitted free with paying adults on Saturday. Tickets are on sale at the Hailey Welcome Center next to the rodeo grounds and at all three Atkinsons’ Markets locations.
- Hailey Days of the Old West Parade—More than 80 parade entrants will march down Hailey’s Main Street at noon. Grand Marshals will be the Nelson family in honor of the 50th anniversary of the Ray Nelson Invitational Baseball Tournament.
- RiverFest hosted by Sawtooth Brewery and Visit Sun Valley will take place from 1 to 6 p.m. at Hailey’s Hop Porter Park. You can expect live music, food trucks, a beer garden and a vintage car show put on by Bennyz Hot Rods.
In addition, the Papoose Club will be selling watermelon with the proceeds gong to funding social, educational, cultural and athletic activities for the children of Blaine County. (P.S. The Papoose Club plans to bring back its Wagon Days Labor Day Pancake Breakfast after a two-year hiatus.)
- Fourth of July Fireworks Extravaganza presented by the City of Hailey and Valley Chamber will feature about 20 minutes of color in the sky starting at dusk. Be aware: Fireworks bans are in place in Blaine County, Bellevue and Ketchum so leave it to the professionals.