PENINSULA DAILY NEWS
The nation celebrates its 229th birthday today, and the North Olympic Peninsula is planning an array of events trimmed in red, white and blue.
The highlight events, as always, are professional fireworks shows to be launched at dusk — around 10 p.m. — in Port Townsend, Port Angeles, Forks and Neah Bay.
Before the blasts, the all-American tradition of picnics, music, parades and — in Forks — a demolition derby will help North Olympic Peninsula residents celebrate the Fourth of July.
Here is a rundown of today’s activities:
Port Angeles
Today’s activities focus downtown, especially at City Pier.
But don’t forget the Grand Parade at 6 p.m., which follows a route along Lincoln Street in front of the courthouse to First Street, then west to Valley Street.
A Festival Village featuring food and craft vendors begins at 3 p.m. at City Pier.
The “village” will include the following vendors and features:
Nash’s Produce/Field to Fork Catering, Michael’s Divine Dining, The Dawg Cart, The Beanery, Shaved Ice, The Landing’s restaurant, Blue Flame BBQ, The Buzz, Van Goes Pizza, Seaside Sweets and craft vendors.
For children and young at heart, a 25-foot tall inflatable slide and a climbing wall.
A dunk tank, with Mayor Richard Headrick sitting on the hot seat from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m., will also be set up at the Pier as a fundraiser for the Port Angeles Senior Center’s Senior Olympics team.
Live music takes place from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. with the following line-up:
* 4 p.m.-5:30 p.m.: Snack Daddies.
* 6:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m.: Sequimarimba.
* 7:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m.: Manteca.
* 8:30 p.m.-10 p.m.: Tongue and Groove.
About 10 p.m., the fireworks display sponsored by Wave Broadband will be launched over Port Angeles Harbor from a new position on the site of the former Rayonier Inc. pulp mill.
Port Townsend
The annual fireworks show at Fort Worden State Park will be launched from a barge off Point Wilson’s eastern shore. The show, sponsored by Port Townsend Sunrise Rotary, is scheduled to begin at sunset.
To alleviate parking and traffic congestion in and around Fort Worden, free shuttles between to and from the park and ride lot at 12th and Kuhn streets will be operated by Jefferson Transit.
Sequim
An old-fashioned community picnic will be held at Carrie Blake Park from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. today. There is no admission fee. The event is coordinated by the Sequim Museum and Arts Center.
There will be a patriotic ceremony at 11 a.m. with entertainment and activities. A traditional holiday lunch of hot dogs, potato salad, sandwiches and chili will be served at a nominal cost.
Following the lunch and ice cream social, the Sequim City Band will be performing at its new bandshell at the park.
Forks
Forks continues its four-day Old Fashioned Fourth of July celebration, themed “Land of the Free, Because of the Brave” to the nation’s military veterans past and present.
The Grand Parade down Forks Avenue begins at 11 a.m., and fireworks will light up Tillicum Park at dusk.
Vets will be honored at the Lion’s Club Salmon Bake at Tillicum Park from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. today.
Members of the community can buy passes which will be given to veterans good for salmon dinners valued at $10.
The purchaser will be able to give the passes to veterans anonymously or the donor can have his/her name on the pass as “compliments of –.”
The passes are available at the Information Center at the Mini-Mall between Chinook Pharmacy and Peninsula College.
The gazebo, made by Olympic Corrections Center and on display at Thriftway today will be raffled off today.
Tickets are $1 each and the drawing will be held at this afternoon’s demolition derby.
Here is today’s schedule of events for the Forks Old Fashioned Fourth of July:
* 8 a.m.-11 a.m.: Elks Breakfast at Forks Elks Lodge.
* 9:15 a.m.: Sign-in for Kiddies Parade at Bank of America parking lot, sponsored by Forks Emblem Club.
* 9:30 a.m.: Parade judging takes place, parking lot of Thriftway.
* 10 a.m.-4 p.m.: Arts, Crafts and Photo Show at Forks Middle School multipurpose room, sponsored by Far West Art League.
* 10 a.m.-8 p.m.: Xbox Tournament, 4 vs. 4 team tournament, sign-ups start at 10 a.m.; 1 on 1 Free for All Tournaments, every hour sign up any time. $1 for 1 on 1 and $5 for a team of 4. Sponsored by Rainy Day Gamers.
* 10:45 a.m.: Kiddies Parade, starts from Bank of America parking lot.
* 11 a.m.: Grand Parade, Thriftway parking lot.
* 3:30 p.m.-6:30 p.m.: Demolition Derby at Tillicum Park arena.
* 6:30 p.m. until dusk: music at Tillicum Park.
Dusk: Fireworks display at Tillicum Park.
Neah Bay
The Neah Bay Chamber of Commerce, the first Native American chamber of commerce in the state, and the Makah Tribal Council are sponsoring today’s events.
The Grand Parade through town takes place at noon.
Youth competitions and events will take place following the parade on Front Street.
A quilt show continues held at the Makah Marina from 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Admission to the show is a contribution to the Neah Bay Elementary School Playground Project.
And the fireworks display will be launched at the Front Street Beach in front of the Makah Senior Center at 10:30 p.m.
