FORKS — The Fourth of July is a weekend-long celebration in Forks.
Along with a parade and fireworks, the three-day festival — which has the theme of “We the People” — will offer a demolition derby, horseshoe tournament, frog jump, arts and craft show, and other entertainment.
Four longtime residents will be honored for their contributions to the community, said Pat Soderlind, secretary of the Forks Old Fashioned Fourth of July Committee.
Edna and John Leppell will be the grand marshals of the Grand Parade, which will wend its way through downtown beginning at noon Monday.
The couple, who own Leppell’s Gifts & Flowers, have lived in Forks for 45 years.
Edna Leppell has been in the parade as a clown for each of those 45 years, Soderlind said.
Being named a grand marshal won’t change that tradition.
Edna will lead the parade as marshal and return to the end of the parade to complete her 45th year as a clown.
Two best friends, Jolene Wittenborn and Leigh Gorham, were named Forks pioneers.
The two women arrived in Forks early in their lives, raised their families in Forks and have been true pioneers in the area, Soderlind said.
Another West End community, Neah Bay — at the end of state Highway 112 — plans fireworks at Front Beach at dusk.
The fireworks are sponsored by the Makah Tribal Council.
In Forks, events are:
Saturday
■ Registration begins at 8 a.m. for the Fourth of July Fun Run in Memory of Bobbi Breithaupt in the parking lot across from Forks Coffee Shop, 241 S. Forks Ave.
The race will begin at 9 a.m. The cost is $25 in advance or $30 the day of the race.
For information, phone 360-374-4275.
■ Registration for the Horseshoe Tournament will begin at 8:30 a.m. at Tillicum Park.
The contest will begin at 9 a.m.
■ A Kiddies Play Day, which is sponsored by the Forks Lions Club, will be held at Tillicum Park from noon to 2 p.m.
■ The Far West Arts League Arts & Crafts Show will be held at the Bank of America, 481 S. Forks Ave., from noon to 4 p.m.
■ A frog jump will begin at 4 p.m. at Tillicum Park.
■ A cribbage tournament will begin at 6 p.m. at the VFW Hall, 110 S. Spartan Ave.
■ Business will be open late for Moonlight Madness, sponsored by the West End Business & Professional Association, from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Sunday
■ Registration for the Sacks Bean Bag Tournament at Tillicum Park is at 9:30 a.m., with the tournament starting at 10 a.m.
■ The arts and crafts show will continue from noon to 4 p.m. at Bank of America.
■ The Old Mill Archery Club Firecracker Shoot will be from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. at 100 LaPush Road. The entry fee is $10.
Monday
■ Check-in for the Grand Parade is at 8 a.m. in the Forks Transit Center parking lot, 551 S. Forks Ave.
■ The Elks Breakfast will be from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. at the Forks Elks Lodge, 941 Merchant Road.
■ The arts and crafts show will continue from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Bank of America.
■ Final entries for the Grand Parade will be accepted at the Forks Transit Center parking lot at 10 a.m.
■ Parade judging will be at 10:30 a.m. in the Forks Transit Center parking lot.
■ The Kiddies Parade check-in will be at 11 a.m. at the Bank of America parking lot.
The parade, sponsored by Forks Emblem Club, will start at 11:45 a.m.
■ The Grand Parade will begin at noon at the Forks Transit Center parking lot.
■ The Forks Lions Club Salmon Bake will be from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at Tillicum Park.
■ Gates will open for the Demolition Derby at Tillicum Park arena at 2 p.m.
The derby will begin at 3 p.m.
Tickets are $8.
■ Music In The Park will be performed from 6:30 p.m. to dusk at Tillicum Park.
■ The fireworks display will be at dusk at Tillicum Park.
Demolition Derby tickets and Fourth of July buttons can be purchased at the Forks Youth League fireworks stand and Fourth of July information booth at the corner of Main Street and Bogachiel Way.
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Reporter Arwyn Rice can be reached at 360-417-3535 or at arwyn.rice@peninsuladailynews.com.
