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Classic cars with American flag-toting passengers cruise the Fourth of July parade route Sunday on Broadway in downtown Jackson. NEWS&GUIDE PHOTO / JENNA SCHOENEFELD

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The day began with a celebration of Americana, pancakes on the Town Square. An economic alchemy turned those pancakes into what concluded the day, bold fireworks exploding over Jackson.

Between, events stretched across 14 hours and featured parade entrants fighting cancer, horn players filling streets with patriotic tunes, youths drilling dunk-tank targets with softballs and dropping men of the cloth into water perhaps made suddenly holy.

Professional musicians graced all walks of life with practiced performances, and bulls danced through the rodeo arena trying to shed their cowboy partners.

It was Independence Day in Jackson Hole, a celebration with a known agenda that lets a multiplicity of small moments unfold and delight individuals. A celebration framed by Jackson Hole, what some think is the best the U.S. has to offer.

“This area is our heaven on earth,” said pancake breakfast attendee Chris Marvel-Loskot.

Pancakes pay

More than 1,000 people lined up for the Jackson Hole Jaycees street breakfast, consuming about 2,000 pancakes, 3,400 sausages and 2,500 eggs, service club president Nicki McDermott said.

The fundraiser collects about a quarter of the money required to put on the fireworks display, she said.

For the Marvel-Loskot family, of Wichita Falls, Texas, the breakfast is a not-to-be-missed part of their July 4 routine when in Jackson Hole.

“It always tastes better outside in the mountain air,” Paul Loskot said. “We love the Americana that’s here. It’s fabulous.”

Politicians parade, don’t win

There were two types of contestants at Sunday morning’s Howdy Pardners’ Fourth of July Parade in Jackson: those who entered hoping judges would vote them best entry and those who hope to become voter-annointed winners in the upcoming primary and general elections.

While the political season was an overriding theme in the 71-entrant parade, the parade was about more than vote seeking.

Organizations such as the Animal Adoption Center marched rescued dogs and their adopted owners down the street as testament to the work done at the little building on Glenwood Street.

The Relay for Life float featured a purple-and-white oversized birthday cake and was aptly named “More Birthdays.” The organization that backs the fight against cancer wanted people to get more years out of their lives.

Relay for Life’s float placed second in the parade, behind 3 Creek Ranch, which created a fantasy of golf and liberty with its float. Large golf balls on tees ringed the float that bore Lady Liberty though Jackson’s streets.

The third-place float featured Western entertainment as Teton Mountain Thunder 4-H cloggers danced and rapped their wooden shoes against their float as they glided down cottonwood-shaded lanes.

Those parading threw thousands of wrapped candies to those lining downtown streets.

Music hits high note

At 3 p.m., the parade of musical performers began at the Alpine Field south of town.

Singer/songwriter Judd Grossman opened Music in the Hole and was followed by the Jackson Hole Community Band. Then came the new songs of indie rock band Rotating Superstructure and closing salsa sounds of Calle Mambo.

Dancers flocked forward, picnickers lolled on the lawn, and pathways delivered a steady stream of symphony pilgrims young and old. Concessionaires helped cut the heat with iced, sweet and barbecued eats, and 10 nonprofits organized family-fun activities.

After the tuxedoed Grand Teton Music Festival performers filed on stage, Director Donald Runnicles appeared. Eloquent and effusive, he welcomed the sunny crowd and introduced the new program, designed by audience suggestion and vote. The audience’s top choice: “Battle Hymn of the Republic,” which the Festival Orchestra performed to majestic affect.

“This concert is a tribute to all of you, a tribute to Jackson Hole,” Runnicles said.

He encouraged the crowd to join the Music Festival fold and journey to Teton Village for concerts.

New this year, the Music Festival held community auditions for Music in the Hole singers, of whom five were chosen to perform with the Festival Orchestra. Molly Thorn began with her rousing rendition of “The Star Spangled Banner.” Pete Simpson led “This Land is Your Land” by Woody Guthrie, Melina Laroza and Jeff Bratz bandied the “George M. Cohan Salute,” and all three sang on the “Armed Forces Salute.” Amanda Joyce Kinley graced “America the Beautiful.”

The evening closed with Tchaikovsky’s “1812 Overture.”

Sunset, firerise

With the sun still awake, the migration shifted downtown as people staked out their valuable fireworks real estate.

The reluctant sun finally tucked in at 10 p.m. – celebrated with the blaring of Queen’s “We Will Rock You” as the pyrotechnic performance began.

As people packed Snow King and the surrounding blocks, downtown dwellers watched from driveways, windows, lawns, even sunroofs. Fireworks fanned both high and low, bold and loud, while some seemed as delicate as Queen Anne’s lace.