Guerneville’s planning Uncle Sam’s River Dance for Fourth of July

After Guerneville’s traditional holiday fireworks were nearly aborted last year due to drought-era wildfire risks, local chamber of commerce organizers decided on a whole new approach to Independence Day in the riverside town.

This year, they’re closing a chunk of downtown for a Saturday night dance party/laser light show that they hope sets the town on fire without ever producing a flame.

Uncle Sam’s River Dance runs from 8 p.m. to midnight, but is intended as a family affair - with food trucks, glow-in-the-dark novelties and, at dusk, a patriotic, half-hour laser light show projected onto a giant screen.

“It’s going to be a huge block party,” said Debra Johnson, president of the Russian River Chamber of Commerce, which is hosting the event. “I’m hoping we’re the place to be. It’s going to be fun.”

Johnson recalled a frantic, last-minute scramble to make necessary accommodations that would ensure the show could go on last year, with mere hours to spare. The writing was on the wall, it seemed, for the future of the town’s fireworks, which have traditionally been launched from a narrow span of beach into the sky above the heavily wooded river.

Eventually, the display got the go-ahead, but only at such low elevation that some spectators were unable to see much above the trees, Johnson said.

So this year, the town is closing a block of Main Street - part of River Road - between the town plaza at Armstrong Woods Road and Church Street, beginning at 7 p.m. A detour around the area using Third Street is available for through traffic, the CHP said.

Organizers are installing a 38-foot stage across Main Street and bringing in DJ Rotten Robbie to play music through the night. There will be food, wine, beer and craft cocktails for sale, and many local businesses, including restaurants and watering holes, will be staying open late, Johnson said.

At some point, a 20-by-30-foot scrim will be stretched across the stage to form a screen onto which the laser light show will be projected, likely around ?9 p.m., she said.

A $5 donation is suggested for entry.

Locals who may be in need of safe travel home at the end of the night can avail themselves of a ride from Mike Fiske, of Falcon Mike’s Adventure Bus Service, who will provide $10 shuttle rides to lower river communities from the town plaza.

You can reach Staff Writer Mary Callahan at 521-5249 or mary.callahan@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter @MaryCallahanB.