The festivities launch with the annual Kiddie Parade on Thursday at 6 p.m. Country Christian School’s Key Club organizes the event, with children and adults alike participating.

The parade stages at Molalla High School and travels down Cole Avenue, taking a right onto Heintz Street before turning onto Grange Avenue. The parade then follows Main Street and finishes on Molalla Avenue.

The carnival opens at Clark Park at 2 p.m. on both Thursday and Friday and will close following the nighttime rodeos at the Buckeroo grounds next door. The carnival opens at 11 a.m. on Saturday and 1 p.m. on Sunday.

The annual Molalla Buckeroo rodeo — Molalla’s main event over the Fourth of July weekend — launches on Thursday night with the first PRCA rodeo performance at 8 p.m. There will also be a rodeo at 8 p.m. on Friday. Gates at the Buckeroo grounds open at 5 p.m. on both nights. There are two rodeos scheduled for July 4 with a 1:30 p.m. matinee and the evening show at 8 p.m. The Buckeroo caps off with a Sunday matinee at 3 p.m.

The matinee rodeos on Saturday and Sunday offer discounted ticket prices. All three evening rodeos will end with a fireworks display, followed by dancing and live music from the Piedmont Boys, a South Carolina band who also performed at last weekend’s Arts and Music Festival.

The Molalla VFW’s annual pancake breakfast has been a Buckeroo tradition for decades. VFW members will serve pancakes, eggs, ham and beverages at Long Park next to the fire station starting at 10 p.m. on July 3 and continuing on through the night and morning until noon on July 4.

The cost is $5 for children and $7 for adults and all proceeds go toward the VFW’s work in the community, including assistance for veterans and their families and care packages for current military men and women serving overseas.

After grabbing some breakfast from the VFW at the park, find a seat along the curb for the July 4 Giant Street Parade at 9:30 a.m.

The parade draws an estimated 20,000 spectators each year and makes a 2.3 mile loop through downtown Molalla. Detours will be in place to re-direct traffic during the parade.

St. James Church’s annual chicken barbecue will open at 11 a.m. on July 4 and continue until 4 p.m. The church is located at 301 Frances St. in Molalla.

The meal includes chicken, coleslaw, a baked potato, a dinner roll and a selection of pies and other desserts for $10. Seniors and children are $7 and half-chickens can be purchased to-go for $6.

This year, St. James will also host an antique tractor, gas engine and car show, opening at 8 a.m. on July 4 and continuing until dusk. Admission and entries are free for the show.