4th of July Celebrations and the Radio (June 30, 2004)

In San Diego, Los Angeles, and many cities across the United States, there is a huge dilemma going on this year. Why?

Well, this year, Independence Day falls on a Sunday. Sundays are the only day of the week that many of us are home early so we can catch the Dr. Demento show on the Internet since no station in Southern California carries the show.

In fact, the last time we had fireworks and Dr. Demento on simultaneously in the same city locally was in 1993 in the North County part of San Diego when the late KKOS 95.9 carried the show. In Los Angeles, however, you have to go way back to 1982 when the old KMET 94.7 was the last Los Angeles radio station to have Dr. Demento (when it was once live) on while the whole L.A. area had fireworks shows (KLSX in 1993 pre-empted the show, and hasn't been on the L.A. airwaves since early 1999 when that year too also had the 4th of July on a Sunday). I also stayed home to catch Dr. D on the Internet.

Californians and other West Coasters have some luck this time around this year, thanks to XM Satellite Radio. This time, you are not at the mercy of the local stations in your area. You can listen to the techno channels 80-82, or any of the rock channels 40-54, or comedy 150-152, even talk if you want.

But if you want Dr. Demento in your car while you watch the fireworks, if you care to settle for three-week old shows, you can tune in XM channel 40 from 9-11pm Pacific time. While the fireworks show go on for about 30 minutes, Dr. Demento provides the fireworks to keep you laughing and amused for two hours every week.

Want to hear the current week's Dr. Demento fireworks comedy show? Drive up to the Northern half of California! Stay on the Western coast and head up to Ft. Bragg in Mendocino County. There's five small towns that are having 4th of July events and parties so drive around while listening to KOZT 95.3 or 95.9 all day for some good adult rock music.

Please read Go-Mendo.com to read more about the events such as Willits Frontier Days, complete with rodeos, barbecues, parades, and more.

Also check out Ukiah's 45th Annual Black Bart Parade in Redwood Valley along wiht a Country BarBeQue, and an All American 4th of July with picnics, games, bands, and an outrageous fireworks show at the Redwood Empire Fairgrounds.

In Mendocino Village on the North Coast, festivities include the Annual Mendocino Street Fair, a Street Party on Albion Street, the July 4th BBQ at the Kelley House, and perhaps the most "off the wall" and "outrageous" event of them all, the Mendocino Village July 4th Parade.

In Fort Bragg, see the World's Largest Salmon Barbeque, the a Independence Day Hoedown, and in the evening, a fireworks display blazes over Noyo Harbor.

Problem? Dr. Demento on KOZT and XM 40 (different shows) are on at the same time, Sunday 9-11pm. Which channel do you want to choose? Well, listen to the Saturday night Dr. Demento show on XM 6 from 6-8pm which is the same episode as the XM 40 show, tune in KOZT Sunday night, and enjoy the fireworks in the air and on the radio.

Too bad Los Angeles and San Diego counties don't have it as good as Mendocino County anymore. Meanwhile, I'll see the 4th of July fireworks show next year when the holiday falls on a Monday.