Fireworks, music, parades to mark Fourth of July in Clallam

PORT ANGELES — A bevy of events are planned for the Fourth of July in Clallam County communities from Sequim to Neah Bay.

In Forks, the Fourth of July is celebrated for a week. Activities will begin Monday and continue through next Sunday, with a special Grand Parade and fireworks on Thursday.

The Port Angeles Regional Chamber of Commerce will host a day-long festival that will include concerts at City Pier, games for all ages, a hot dog eating contest, a July Fourth parade and a professional fireworks display.

Neah Bay also plans a fireworks show for Thursday.

The Port Angeles Fourth of July celebration has grown significantly as a “community-building event” in recent years, said Marc Abshire, chamber director.

“We’re really trying to focus on bringing the community together on a national holiday and trying to build community pride,” Abshire said.

“We want people to feel like they can stay in Port Angeles for the Fourth and not have to go somewhere else for a good time.”

Meanwhile, the Sequim City Band will present its annual “Patriotic 4th” concert at 3 p.m. Thursday at the James Center for the Performing Arts, 350 N. Blake Ave. in Sequim.

This free event is set just north of Carrie Blake Community Park.

The traditional Independence Day concert will include such favorites as “America the Beautiful,” classic marches, a compilation of 10 American folk songs from the Civil War era and an honoring of military veterans and current service members with the “Armed Forces Salute.”

The Sequim City Band typically has its largest summer audience for its Fourth of July concert.

Rain or shine, the Forks Old Fashioned 4th of July is a week-long celebration.

The traditional event includes a Grand Parade in downtown Forks at noon Thursday and a Fourth of July fireworks display at Tillicum Park at dusk.

“It’s just hometown America,” said Lissy Andros, Forks Chamber of Commerce executive director.

“You’ll see everybody in town and visitors lined up for the parade.”

The theme for this year’s Forks Old Fashioned 4th of July is “Raise the Flag.”

A traditional garrison flag raising will take place at 6 a.m. Thursday at Tillicum Park.

A first-year dodge ball tournament will be held at Tillicum Park at 1 p.m. Thursday to raise money for the Forks High School wrestling team.

Other Thursday events include a salmon bake at 1 p.m. and a demolition derby at 3 p.m.

The Forks Old Fashioned 4th will continue through the weekend with multiple activities at Tillicum Park, including a horseshoe tournament, archery tag and children’s play day.

For a complete schedule, visit the www.ForksWa.com/events.

“It’s a really fun event, and everyone shows up rain or shine,” Andros said.

“We’re hoping lots of people come out and get to know their neighbors and meet some visitors.”

Neah Bay’s annual fourth of July celebration will include a parade, fishing derby, quilt and fiber arts show and fireworks display, according to the Neah Bay Chamber of Commerce website.

The Port Angeles Independence Day celebration will take place at City Pier, the Gateway Transit Center, The Landing mall and Pebble Beach Park.

New events for this year’s festival including Habitat for Humanity-sponsored golf chipping and putting contests, a Port Angeles Lefties beer garden and a Cedars at Dungeness food tent at Pebble Beach Park.

A new hot dog eating contest and Lefties home run derby will be held at City Pier.

“Every year we’ve added something more,” Abshire said.

“That’s going to continue as long as it remains popular.”

The Grand Parade through downtown will begin at 6 p.m. and has about 75 entries.

Freddy Pink, a premier Northwest rock and soul band, will perform. The group played before the fireworks show in Seattle last year, Abshire said.

Sponsored by Wave Broadband and the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe, the fireworks will be lit from a barge at a safe distance in Port Angeles Harbor, Abshire said.

“The tribe are making the Freddy Pink concert possible, and also the fireworks,” Abshire said.

“They really are stepping up big time.”

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Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 56450, or at rollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.