Forks’ Independence Day celebration continues today while other communities on the North Olympic Peninsula prepare for full days of activities Tuesday, the Fourth of July.
Today, Forks will feature contests for children with prizes of ice-cream cones or cash.
Between noon and 2 p.m., the Forks Lion Club will host a kiddies’ play day at Tillicum Park. Games include a watermelon eating contest, water balloon tossing and three-legged races.
A bean bag toss to benefit Make-A-Wish Foundation will kick off at 3 p.m. Entry is $30, and 50 percent of proceeds go to Make-A-Wish. Call 360-870-1100 to register.
Festivities in Forks will continue Monday and Tuesday, while Port Angeles, Sequim, Port Townsend and other communities prepare for events on the Fourth of July.
The Port Angeles Chamber of Commerce’s Fourth of July all-day celebration will feature an expanded parade route, an apple pie baking contest, an opportunity to mingle with the Port Angeles Lefties, Chevy vehicles on display and a public display of fireworks shot from a barge 1,000 feet off City Pier.
Registration and check-in for the Firecracker 5K and 10K race that will begin and end on the Waterfront Trail will open at 8:30 a.m. at the Red Lion Hotel, 221 N. Lincoln St.
Pie competition drop-offs can be made at City Pier at 11 a.m.
The parade, set from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., will have a new route this year.
The new route begins at the float staging area on North Cedar Street, then begins its loop along Marine Drive to Front Street, heads left on Oak Street, turns right on Railroad Avenue, right on Laurel Street, right on First Street and finally left off South Valley Street, just across from where Marine Drive meets Front.
Before the parade will be events at The Gateway transit center at the corner of Front and Lincoln streets, City Pier at Lincoln Street and Railroad Avenue, and Waterfront Park at West Railroad Avenue and North Oak Street.
At The Gateway transit center will be:
• Noon to 5 p.m. — Face painting, PA Rocks, Banbury Daycare, North Olympic Library System, Home Depot, musical instruments, salmon coalition, artist mentors and a selfie station.
• Noon to 1 p.m. — Poser Yoga and Cupcake Walk.
• 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. — Port Angeles cheerleaders and slap bracelet decorating.
• 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. — Aspire Dance.
• 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. — Cupcake Walk.
• 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. — Slap bracelet decorating.
• 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. — Cupcake Walk.
Vendor booths at the transit center bus lanes will be available from noon to 5 p.m. and will feature farmers market goods, food, craft activities, clothing and furniture.
City Pier, noon to 11 p.m.
City Pier will feature the Port Angeles Lefties, a Ruddell Chevy display, hot dogs and soda, as well as a beer and wine garden.
• Noon — Apple pie contest.
• 1 p.m. — Firecracker run begins.
• 1:15 p.m. — Pie contest winners announced.
• 1:30 p.m. — Luck of the Draw.
• 3:30 p.m. — Buck Ellard Band.
• 8 p.m. — Fat Chance Band.
• 10:15 p.m. — Fireworks display on the bay.
Peninsula College’s inaugural Pirates in the Park will feature a live marimba band at 3 p.m., volleyball, pop-a-shot, cornhole, sidewalk chalk drawings and a treasure hunt for kids.
Sequim
Sequim will celebrate Tuesday with food, music and classic cars.
Admission to the Sequim Elks Club’s celebration at the lodge at 143 Port Williams Road will be by donation, with proceeds going to Elks’ veterans programs.
The day will begin with breakfast from 9 a.m. to noon, followed by music in the lodge ballroom: Round Trip from noon to 3 p.m. and Victor Von Reventlo from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Visitors can munch on hot dogs and play games from noon to 6 p.m.
Classic wheels from the Sequim Valley Car Club will be on display.
KSQM 91.5 FM will air a live feed and offer root beer floats. Clallam County Fire District 3 will have a display with members of the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) and offer blood pressure checks.
At 3 p.m., the Sequim City Band will perform patriotic music at the James Center for the Performing Arts, 350 N. Blake Ave.
The free concert will have lawn seating available.
Port Townsend
On Tuesday in Port Townsend, the third annual “Old School” 4th of July will be from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. at Fort Worden State Park, 200 Battery Way.
Festivities will include live music, food vendors, a beer garden, hot air balloons, field games, free root beer floats, miniature golf and a tug of war, and a watermelon eating contest.
The celebration also will feature musical acts such as the National Guard Dixieland Jazz Band, Selena Espinoza, Caribe Steel Band and fiddlers attending Centrum’s 40th annual Festival of American Fiddle Tunes.
Headlining a dance party at 8 p.m. will be Uncle Funk and the Dope Six.
The schedule is:
• 1:30 p.m. — Fiddles on the Fourth, presented by Centrum.
• 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. — Hot air balloons.
• 4:15 p.m. — National Guard Dixieland Jazz Band.
• 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. — Photo booth.
• 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. — Mini-golf.
• 5 p.m. — 1,000 free root beer floats.
• 5:15 p.m. — National anthem, performed by Espinoza.
• 5:30 p.m. — Stars of Tomorrow winners announced.
• 6 p.m. — Tug-of-war championship and Caribe Steel Band.
• 7 p.m. — Fiddles and fireworks.
• 7:30 p.m. — Watermelon eating contest.
• 7:45 p.m. — Community photo, courtesy of David Conklin.
• 7:50 p.m. — Pie in the face.
• 8 p.m. — Dance party with Uncle Funk and the Dope Six.
• 10 p.m. — 50/50 raffle drawing.
• 10:10 p.m. — Fireworks display.
Also in Port Townsend will be the Port Angeles Yacht Club’s parade at noon in front of the yacht club, 1305 Marine Drive.
The parade route will run along the city waterfront to Olympic Medical Center and then return to the yacht club.
The Port Townsend Summer Band will perform its annual Independence Day concert at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at the American Legion Post 26, 209 Monroe St.
Forks
The Forks celebration Monday will feature a frog jump at 6 p.m. at Tillicum Park. At the same time, a cribbage tournament will start at the VFW Hall on South Spartan Avenue. The entry fee is $6.
Festivities will culminate with a busy Tuesday. Here is the schedule:
• 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. — Elks’ annual Fourth of July breakfast at the lodge, 941 Merchants Road. Cost is $8 for adults, $6 for kids and seniors, and free for ages 4 and younger.
• 8 a.m. — Check-in for Grand Parade at Forks Outfitters’ parking lot, 950 S. Forks Ave.
• 10 a.m. — Sign-up and judging begins for Kiddies’ Parade at the Peninsula College parking lot, 481 S. Forks Ave.
• 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. — Far West Art League art, photo and craft show at the Rainforest Arts Center, 35 N. Forks Ave.
• 10:30 a.m. — Final entries and judging for Grand Parade.
• 11:30 a.m. — Lineup for Kiddies’ Parade at the college’s parking lot.
• 11:45 a.m. — Kiddies’ Parade begins from the college’s parking lot.
• Noon — Grand Parade begins from the outfitters parking lot.
• 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. — Salmon bake at Tillicum Park, 236 N. Blackberry Ave.
• 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. — Forks Visitor Information Center, 1411 S. Forks Ave., and Forks Timber Museum, 1421 S. Forks Ave., both open.
• 3 p.m. — Demolition derby begins, with gates opening at 2 p.m. Tickets are $10 at the gate. Advance tickets are available at the Forks Youth League fireworks stand at the corner of Forks Avenue and Bogachiel Way.
• Dusk — Fireworks display at Tillicum Park.
Neah Bay
Neah Bay will bring back its annual Fourth of July street fair, including a parade, food vendors, field events, face painting and a drawing for fireworks packs.
Parade-goers will meet at the parking lot of the Makah Museum, 1880 Bayview Ave., at 10 a.m. Tuesday. Bikers are invited to decorate their bikes for the parade. Decorations will be available at the lot. The parade will begin at 11 a.m.
Food — including hot dogs, chicken kabobs, watermelon, chips and water — will be ready by noon.
Field events, such as relay races, a watermelon eating contest, a bunny hop race and two- and three-legged races, will kick off around the same time. Cash prizes provide an extra incentive to compete.
Chimacum
In Chimacum will be the Friends of Chimacum Creek’s Fourth of July picnic from noon to 3 p.m. Tuesday.
Those interested are asked to bring their own picnic, beverages and seating to Irondale Beach Park, 562 Monroe St. in Port Hadlock.
