Public fireworks are planned tonight in Port Angeles and Sequim, while Forks wraps up five days of celebration. The reopening of the state on Wednesday has allowed in-person gatherings for this year’s Fourth of July celebrations, in contrast to the 2020 events during COVID-19 restrictions that were primarily live-streamed.
Port Angeles is offering an in-person concert and a lawnmower derby as well as fireworks this evening.
The Forks Old Fashioned Fourth of July began on Wednesday and continues with a full slate of holiday celebrations today, including a Grand Parade and a demolition derby.
The city of Sequim is offering its first fireworks show tonight, with residents able to gather in Carrie Blake Community Park to watch it if they don’t view it from elsewhere in the city.
Although public fireworks are planned in Port Angeles and Sequim, consumer fireworks are banned in those towns as well as in Forks and Port Townsend.
Forks Mayor Tim Fletcher, citing triple-digit temperatures in Forks this week, issued an emergency declaration imposing a ban on all open burning and fireworks within the city of Forks because of unusual fire danger caused by hot weather, low humidity and lack of rainfall. In addition, the public fireworks show originally planned for Sunday in Forks has been canceled.
Fireworks can be discharged in unincorporated areas in both Clallam and Jefferson counties through 11 p.m. Monday, so long as the state’s risk assessment does not go higher. Both counties now are rated in moderate fire danger. Officials have asked people to use extreme caution in using fireworks.
In Forks, additional tickets to Sunday’s demolition derby are being sold since the state reopened on Wednesday. Tickets are $10, with children 2 and younger free, and can be purchased, cash only after the Grand Parade has ended at the ticket booth near the base of the Tillicum Park arena.
Here are schedules in each town:
Port Angeles
The Port Angeles Chamber of Commerce is offering downtown events beginning at 6 p.m. Per Washington state policy, unvaccinated participants are required to wear face coverings in all public spaces.
• Lawnmower Derby — 6 p.m. in the parking lot used for the Winter Ice Village ice rink, 121 W. Front St. The two-hour event will consist of two or more qualifying heats and a final heat.
• Black Diamond Junction concert — 8 p.m. in the parking lot just east of Barhop Brewing and Artisan Pizza, 120 W. Railroad Ave. Seating will be available, but participants may want to bring their own chairs, blankets and refreshments.
• Fireworks — About 10:15 p.m., the annual fireworks show will begin, accompanied by music played on radio station KONP 1450 AM, 107.3 FM, 101.3 FM. It is expected to be visible throughout much of the city. The launch point will be just west of the Valley Creek estuary, west of Pebble Beach Park. Spectators are asked to stay away from the launch area.
Funding for the annual Port Angeles 4th of July Community Celebration is provided by WAVE Broadband, Kitsap Bank, Barhop Brewing and Artisan Pizza, and the Port Angeles Chamber of Commerce.
• The Port Angeles Yacht Club will host its annual Fourth of July Boat Parade, with local pilots and club members providing a flyover.
All boats are welcome. Boat decorations are encouraged. A captains’ meeting will be at 10:30 a.m. at the Port Angeles Yacht Club, 1305 Marine Drive.
Boats will assemble on the water in front of the clubhouse between 11 a.m. and 1:15 p.m., travel to Hollywood Beach and the downtown pier before returning to the annual barbecue.
Forks
• 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. — Elks Annual Forks Fourth of July Breakfast, $10, takeaway option available, Forks Elks Lodge, 941 Merchant Road, 360-374-2524.
• 8 a.m. — “Stand for the Red, White and Blue” Garrison Flag Raising and Service Branch Plaque Dedication at Tillicum Park by the mayor and U.S. Coast Guard Station Quillayute River.
• 8 a.m. — Check-in for Grand Parade at Forks Outfitters parking lot.
• 10 a.m. — Sign-ups for Kiddies Parade begins, Peninsula College parking lot, 481 S. Forks Ave., 360-640-2143.
• 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. — Historic Quilt Display, Rainforest Arts Center, 35 N. Forks Ave. Closed during the parade.
• 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. — Vendors in the Park. Call 360-374-5412, ext. 237, to sign up.
• 10:30 a.m. — Final entries and judging for Grand Parade begins.
• 11 a.m. — Judging (optional) and lineup for Kiddies Parade, Peninsula College parking lot, 481 S. Forks Ave.
• 11:45 a.m. — Kiddies Parade begins, Peninsula College.
• Noon — Forks Grand Parade begins from Forks Outfitters parking lot.
• 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. — Salmon Bake, sponsored by Forks Lions Club; cost TBA, “Ben Dome” at Tillicum Park, 360-640-2062.
• 3 p.m. — Demolition Derby gates open at 1 p.m., derby begins at 3 p.m., tickets $10, Tillicum Park arena. Strollers require a ticket. No wagons, animals, pop-up canopies or coolers inside gates.
Sequim
This Fourth of July marks Sequim’s first fireworks display. The 20-minute show by Western Display Fireworks of Canby, Ore., will begin about 10:15 p.m. at Carrie Blake Community Park, 202 N. Blake Ave. Fireworks will shoot from the Albert Haller Playfields in the northern end of the park and will be visible throughout the city.
Those not fully vaccinated from COVID-19 who come to park to watch must wear masks, city staff said.
