Fourth of July in Bisbee: A Detailed Preview of All the Fun to Be Had

The Fourth of July is not only a day for Americans to celebrate the independence of our vast country. It’s also a day that brings together families and friends from nearby as well as far away. Bisbee serves as a top destination for people to enjoy what this special town has to offer on the star-spangled holiday. From coaster races to vintage baseball to fireworks, the town pulls out all stops to make sure the community has fun and safe activities for every age. The events will take you from Old Bisbee to Warren, and back to Old Bisbee again throughout the day and into the night. Buckle up!

Before the Fourth of July festivities begin on Friday, though, the night before beholds the second annual hot dog eating contest at the Hitching Post Saloon in Warren. Sponsored by Jimmy’s Hot Dog Company and hosted by The Bisbee Séance Room’s Master of the Macabre, Magic Kenny Bang Bang, the contest begins at 8 p.m. on July 3^rd. The entry fee is $10, and there will be a cash prize for the first-place winner who eats the most hot dogs. Talk about an American pastime!

Moving on to the holiday, the Fourth of July begins with the annual coaster races, soap box derby-type cars originally called pushmobiles, will once again kick off the day’s festivities. The event, a staple in Old Bisbee since at least 1914 when it was held on Thanksgiving, is returning to Main Street this year after moving to the cutoff on Arizona Street in Warren last year due to the fire that left Main Street partially accessible. The race route starts up top West Boulevard and runs down Tombstone Canyon, finishing in the center of town at the convention center.

The first of two pre-qualifying trial runs took place on June 7 in Warren at Cole Avenue and Arizona Street, the site of last year’s race. The second (and final) opportunity to qualify and to sign up is happening June 21 from 8 a.m.-10 a.m. at the same location in Warren. The third (and mandatory) practice/trial run takes place on June 28 from 8 a.m.-10 a.m. on the actual course starting by the SR 80 underpass on West Boulevard.

Since 1993 (after a 13-year hiatus to revamp the event and make it safer), the races have been for youngsters only, broken up into two divisions: junior (ages 9-12) and senior (ages 13-16). Age is based on how old the child is on the day of the race. Cash prizes and trophies will be handed out for first through third place finishers. There will also be a cash prize and plaque handed out to the “Best Build and the “Best-looking” coaster cars. The race committee expects 15-20 participants this year. You can follow the event and get updates on the Bisbee Coaster Races Facebook page.

If you’re feeling hungry from watching the coaster races and want to kick off the holiday with some bubbly, head up to Bisbee Royale on Main Street for $5 champagne to wash down one of their specialty brunch items, such as eggs benedict or a breakfast burrito. Brunch is served from 8 a.m.-2 p.m. They will also be offering an all-day burger and a beer special for $18, as well as other exciting dinner and drink specials.

After the races commence, the annual parade, hosted by the Bisbee Rotary Club, will be just about to start heading down the route, which starts at 11 a.m. on Cole Avenue next to Greenway School in Warren. The parade will follow Cole Avenue to Douglas (Bisbee) Road to Ruppe Avenue (in front of Warren Ballpark), then back up Arizona Street to Cole Avenue. The parade typically ends around 1 p.m., which is just in time to catch the Bisbee Black Sox vintage baseball team play at Warren Ballpark (more on that later).

This year’s parade theme is “Independence Day: United for Good.” “This underlies our desire to keep our community together and united in our rather trying times,” said Carrie Gustavson, treasurer of the Bisbee Rotary Club. The parade is open to all, and the cost to enter is $20 for individuals (not running for political office) and nonprofit organizations, $25 for businesses and politicians, and it’s free of charge for Bisbee school organizations, police, fire, VFW and American Legion. The registration form is available at bisbeerotaryclub.org, or you can email bisbeerotaryclub@gmail.com for a copy.

There will be prizes awarded for “Best in Show,” “Best Themed: Independence Day” and “Best Themed: United for Good.” In addition to all their other duties on the day to keep the parade organized, the rotary members serve as the judges who decide the winners in each category. Pre-registration is highly encouraged, and so are floats!

After the parade ends, you can either choose to stay in Warren and take in some vintage baseball at Warren Ballpark, in what’s considered America’s oldest continuously used professional baseball venue, or you can head to the Brewery Gulch to either partake in or spectate at the hard rock drilling and mucking competition.  

The vintage baseball doubleheader kicks off at 1:30 p.m. Dressed in replica uniforms that would have been worn over a century ago and playing by rules that were in place during Lincoln’s presidency, the Bisbee Black Sox- a co-ed team that has been around since 2010- will be taking on Arizona Mixed 9, a motley mix of other vintage baseball players from around the state. Admission is free; donations are welcome.

If the choose your own adventure took you back to Old Bisbee for the hard rock drilling and mucking competition that starts around 12 p.m., parking may be a bit more challenging than usual with Brewery Gulch being closed to vehicle traffic. The event, which uses a stage/platform in the middle of the Gulch, tests the skills and strength of men, going into the late afternoon to around 4 p.m.

This mining technique, paying tribute to single-jack drilling, uses a 4-pound hammer to pound a chisel-like “steel” into hard rock to excavate hard minerals, such as ore containing gold, silver, iron, copper, zinc, nickel, tin and lead. Children can also emulate the adults by mucking with their own kid-sized equipment. Spectators line the streets- standing, sitting or gathered in provided bleachers- bringing their energy and enthusiasm to cheer on participants in this beloved Bisbee tradition. Want to be part of the fun? Just show up and sign up!

Old Bisbee Brewing Company’s patio offers a prime viewing basecamp for the drilling and mucking competition. As the streets in the Gulch will be closed off for the festivities, the bars in the area will be allowed to sell to-go drinks. Old Bisbee Brewing Company will be offering their popular seasonal gluten-free beverage, the Watermelon Salut, made with champagne yeast and lightly sweetened with peach and elderberry (with fresh watermelon added to this month’s featured flavor). And, if you’re hungry and want an all-American meal, grab a $5 bratwurst with chips to enjoy it with your beverage wherever you want to enjoy them!

Ending the day with a bang will be the fireworks, supplied by the City of Bisbee and safely lit by the Bisbee Fire Department, which start around 8 p.m. (dusk) at the upper end of Vista Park in Warren. The display typically lasts about 45 minutes, with 12-13 firefighters working the immediate ignition area, with brush trucks and water on hand to protect neighborhood houses if necessary. The Fourth of July is a mandatory day to work for all Bisbee firefighters (22 total), and the ones that aren’t up top helping with the launching will be stationed around the area to ensure the safety of spectators.

As it is fire season, and Bisbee is under a Stage II fire restrictions order, Fire Chief Jim Richardson said he’d appreciate people not lighting off their own fireworks. “The public should also be mindful of their BBQs,” said Richardson. “Mesquite or charcoal BBQs are not permitted- only gas BBQ grills are allowed.” As far as the safety of the Bisbee fireworks goes, Richardson said if he wasn’t confident it was safe, he wouldn’t do it. The Bisbee Police Department also offers safety assistance for the event.

If you’re still awake and have energy to head to local taverns to take in the nightlife with friends and family you may not have seen in a while, there are options in either Warren or Old Bisbee. If you head over to the Hitching Post Saloon, you will be able to watch Legs & Laughs, a Tucson-based pole/burlesque/comedy troupe, followed by two Bisbee-based bands, The Lolly Bombs, playing passionate pop rock with an edgy twang, and Tanz Der Vampyr, playing darkwave/goth music. The entertainment starts at 8 p.m.; however, as not to compete with the noise and nostalgia, the show will take a break when the fireworks are going off.

And if the night takes you back to Old Bisbee, Gene’s Place is a good place to kick off the night before dark sets over the city. Asphalt Asronaut, a folk indie artist from Tucson, will take the stage at 7 p.m. Gene’s Place will also be opening at 12 p.m. that day, so you can enjoy some cold beverages and a grilled cheese sandwich while watching the hard rock drilling and mucking competition in the Gulch.

Lastly, if you need a break from it all, Classic Rock Couture will be honoring locals on the Fourth of July. Anyone with a valid Cochise County ID will receive 10% off storewide on Friday only. Mad Cow Mercantile in the Gulch will also be offering a 10% discount and a free shot with a $50 purchase. Go show your patriotism and support American businesses!