Fourth of July festivals and fireworks in Seattle, the suburbs and beyond

Pack up your blanket, lawn chairs and a picnic and head to Fourth of July events near and far. Parking can be a challenge, so leave early, or better yet, ride your bike, take the bus or walk; a flashlight can come in handy to find your way leaving a fireworks show. A few offer shuttle-bus service and off-site parking, and some streets near large events may be closed or otherwise restricted. Alcohol is forbidden at parks, though some large festivals offer beer gardens. Personal fireworks aren't allowed and your pets will be better off at home.

Have fun, be safe and have a great Fourth at any of the following events:

Seattle

Family Fourth at Lake Union

SAT All-ages games, food vendors, noon-8 p.m., beer garden, noon-9:30 p.m.; special viewing area for people with disabilities opens 6 p.m., fireworks show at dusk, Saturday, Gas Works Park, 2101 N. Northlake Way, Seattle (www.chasefamily4th.org).

Naturalization Ceremony

SAT More than 500 people from more than 75 countries will be sworn in by a U.S. District Court Judge as new citizens of the United States of America, noon-1 p.m.; performances by Navy Band Northwest, United States Army Color Guard and the Total Experience Gospel Choir, 11 a.m. Saturday, Fisher Pavilion, Seattle Center, Seattle (www.ethnicheritagecouncil.org).

4th of July Party at The Swedish Cultural Center

SAT Deluxe picnic supper, entertainment for adults and kids, reserved parking, close-up view from three balconies of the Lake Union fireworks display, 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Swedish Cultural Center, 1920 Dexter Ave. N., Seattle; $35/adult, $13/children, by reservation (206-523-9570).

Eastside

Bellevue Family Fourth

SAT Famly Fun zone entertainment, rides, climbing wall, 2-8:30 p.m.; picnic games, 3-4:30 p.m.; C-17 flyover, 4 p.m.; music starting 5:30 p.m.; fireworks display with music by the 60-piece Bellevue Philharmonic Orchestra, 10:05 p.m. Saturday, Bellevue Downtown Park, 10201 N.E. Fourth St., Bellevue; free parking at Bellevue Square after 6 p.m. (425-453-1223 or www.bellevuedowntown.org/events/familyfourth/).

Celebrate Kirkland

SAT Children's parade, pets welcome, 11:30 a.m.; community parade with "Red, White, Blue and Green All Over" reduce/reuse/recycle theme, noon, downtown Kirkland; picnic with food vendors, 1-5 p.m., Marina Park; bouncy toys for kids, 2 p.m., Heritage Park; music, 7:30 p.m., fireworks display, 10 p.m. Saturday, Marina Park, 25 Lake Shore Plaza, Kirkland (www.celebratekirkland.org/index.htm).

4th at the Lake, Newcastle

SAT Family activities, food, 6 p.m., concert by the AstroCats, 8 p.m., fireworks show, 10 p.m. Saturday, Lake Boren Park, Southeast 84th Avenue and Coal Creek Parkway Southeast, Newcastle; free shuttle service from Newcastle Elementary School, 8400 136th Ave S.E. (425-649-4444 or www.ci.newcastle.wa.us/).

Fourth on the Plateau, Sammamish

SAT Music, food vendors, children's playground and fireworks display, 6-11 p.m. Saturday, Sammamish Commons Park, 801 228th Ave. S.E., Sammamish (www.ci.sammamish.wa.us/).

Carnation Fourth of July Celebration

SAT Craft and food vendors, children's activities all day, children's parade, 10:30 a.m., grand parade, 11 a.m., Hot Rods and Harleys show, noon-4 p.m., music, fireworks at dusk Saturday, downtown Carnation; music and beer garden, 4:45-10 p.m., Tolt-MacDonald Park, Carnation (www.carnation4th.org/).

South

Family 4th at Fort Dent Park, Tukwila

SAT Entertainment stage, kids' activities, food vendors, fireworks display at dusk, 2-11 p.m. Saturday, Fort Dent Park, 6800 Fort Dent Way, Tukwila (206-768-2822).

Fireworks Over Des Moines

SAT Music featuring Jr. Cadillac, fireworks display at dusk, 6-11 p.m. Saturday, Des Moines Marina, 22307 Dock St., Des Moines (206-870-6527).

Renton 4th of July Fireworks

SAT Free inflatable activities for kids, noon-8 p.m., stage entertainment 1-9 p.m., official welcome and national anthem, 2 and 7:15 p.m., fireworks display, 10 p.m. Saturday, Gene Coulon Memorial Beach Park, 1201 Lake Washington Blvd., Renton (425-430-6600 or rentonwa.gov).

Kent Fourth of July Splash

SAT Entertainment, pie and watermelon-eating contest, games, food, fireworks, noon-11 p.m. Saturday, Lake Meridian Park, 14800 S.E. 272nd St., Kent; shuttle bus transportation available Kent Fire Station 75, 15635 S.E. 272nd St., Kentwood High School, 25800 164th Ave. S.E., 132nd Park and Ride, Kent (253-856-5050 or www.ci.kent.wa.us/arts).

Auburn 4th of July Festival

SAT Kids' bike parade, entertainment on two stages, inflatable rides, climbing wall, petting zoo and pony carousel, bingo, bocce, car show, games, craft and food vendors, book sale, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, Les Gove Park, 11th Street and Auburn Way South, Auburn; free admission, $5/wristband for unlimited kids' activities (253-931-3052 or www.auburnwa.gov).

Red, White and Blues Festival, Federal Way

SAT City of Federal Way presents entertainment, games, art activities, teen dance stage, sports clinics; bring blankets and chairs for seating, 6 p.m. Saturday, fireworks display, 10:15 p.m., Celebration Park, 1095 S. 324th St., Federal Way; on-site parking opens 5:30 p.m. (253-835-6900 or www.cityoffederalway.com/).

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CityBlast Fireworks Show, Puyallup

SAT Gates open for kids' inflatable fun zone, 6 p.m., stage show, 9 p.m., fireworks, 10 p.m., 6 p.m. Saturday, Puyallup Fair and Events Center, 110 Ninth Ave. S.W., Puyallup; $5/person (cityblast2009.com).

Enumclaw Stars and Stripes

SAT Downtown parades, noon, children's activities, 1-4 p.m. Saturday, downtown Enumclaw; fireworks at dusk, Enumclaw Expo Center, Enumclaw (www.cityofenumclaw.net).

Tacoma Freedom Fair and Air Show

SAT Music, games, family activities,air show and fireworks display, 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturday, Waterfront Park, Tacoma, Ruston Way, Tacoma (www.freedomfair.com).

North

Lynnwood Star-Spangled Celebration

SAT Costume parade, 5:30 p.m.; kids' activities, music, food vendors, 6-10:30 p.m.; fireworks show, 10 p.m. Saturday, Lynnwood Athletic Complex, 3003 184th St. S.W., Lynnwood (425-650-4030 or www.ci.lynnwood.wa.us).

An Edmonds Kind of Fourth

SAT Fun run, 10 a.m., children's parade, 11:30 a.m., main parade, noon, musical entertainment, 7:30 p.m., fireworks, 10 p.m. Saturday, downtown Edmonds (425-776-6711 or www.edmondswa.com).

Northshore Cities Fourth of July

SAT Bothell Freedom Festival, children's parade, 11:15 a.m., grand parade, noon, Main Street, downtown Bothell; concert in the park, 1:30 p.m., historical re-enactment of the battle of Concord, 2 p.m. Saturday, Park at Bothell Landing, 9919 N.E. 180th St., Bothell (425-486-7430 or www.ci.bothell.wa.us);

• Bluesfest performances, 3:30-8 p.m. Saturday, Wilmot Gateway Park, 17301 131st Ave. N.E., Woodinville;

• fireworks over Lake Washington, 10 p.m. Saturday, Log Boom Park, Northeast 175th Street and 61st Avenue Northeast, Kenmore; additional parking available at Kenmore Lake Building, 6161 N.E. 175th St., Bethany Bible Church, 6214 N.E. Bothell Way, Uplake Professional Center, 5723 N.E. Bothell Way, Kenmore (425-398-8900 or www.cityofkenmore.com).

Everett's Colors of Freedom 4th of July

SAT Downtown parade with marching bands, lion dancers, giant puppets, 11 a.m., downtown Everett; live music, kids' activities, food fair, beer garden, 1-10 p.m. Saturday, Legion Park, 145 Alverson Blvd., Everett; fireworks over Port Gardner Bay, 10:20 p.m. Saturday (425-257-7101 or enjoyEverett.org).

Evergreen Speedway Fourth of July

SAT Auto racing and demolition derby, fireworks at dusk, 5-11 p.m. Saturday, Evergreen State Fairgrounds, 14405 179th Ave. S.E., Monroe; $7.50-$22.50 (360-805-6100 or www.evergreenspeedway.net).

Arlington Fourth of July

SAT Triathalon, pancake breakfast 7-10 a.m., parade 5 p.m., fireworks display at dusk Saturday, Arlington (360-403-3448).

Around the Sound

Celebrate America, Whidbey Island

FRI Family-friendly entertainment, patriotic presentation, food vendors, bouncy houses for kids, fireworks show, 4 p.m. Friday, Freeland Park, 140 E. Main St., Freeland; free shuttles begin at 4:30 from Freeland Park & Ride at Trinity Lutheran Church and from Chase Bank in Freeland to the park, Whidbey Island (360-221-1656 or www.swag-online.org).

Kingston 4th of July Celebration

FRI-SAT Children's festival, entertainment, 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Friday-Saturday, Kola Kole Park, Kingston; music, fireworks show, 10 a.m.-10:30 p.m. Saturday, Mike Wallace Park, Kingston (kingstontinytown.com/).

Bainbridge Grand Old Fourth of July

SAT Street fair, entertainment, antique car show and parade, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, downtown Bainbridge Island (206-842-3700 or www.bainbridgechamber.com).

Oak Harbor Old Fashioned 4th of July

SAT Carnival, parade, games, food, arts and crafts vendors; 10 a.m.-10 p.m., parade 11 a.m., fireworks, 10 p.m. Saturday, Windjammer Park, 1600 S.E. Beeksma Dr., Oak Harbor (www.oakharborchamber.com/4thofjuly.aspx).

Anacortes Independence Day

SAT Parade, 11 a.m., patriotic program and fireworks over Fidalgo Bay at dusk Saturday, Causland Park, Eighth Street and N Avenue, Anacortes (www.anacortes.org/news.cfm).

Around the state

4th of July Celebration, Port Angeles

SAT Live music, food and craft vendors open 3 p.m., parade, 6 p.m., fireworks display at dusk Saturday, Port Angeles City Pier, Railroad and Lincoln Streets, Port Angeles (www.portangeles.org/WaveBroadband4thofJulyCelebration.html).

Fourth of July, Cle Elum and Roslyn

SAT-SUN Pioneer Days parade, 10 a.m., First Street, Cle Elum; Taste of the Valley Street Fair, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, downtown Cle Elum; Pioneer Days celebration, events Saturday-Sunday in Cle Elum/Roslyn; Runner Stumbles 10K run and 5K run/walk, 7:30-11 a.m. Sunday, Suncadia; outdoor breakfast, fishing derby, bocci tournament, Sunday, Cle Elum (www.cleelumroslyn.org/activities/calendar.php).

Splash Festival, Aberdeen

SAT Arts and crafts, food vendors, carnival, games and fireworks display over the Chehalis River, noon-10 p.m. Saturday, Morrison Riverfront Park, 1401 Sargent Blvd., Aberdeen (www.visitgraysharbor.com).

Fireworks on the Beach, Long Beach

SAT Parade, noon Saturday, Ocean Park; fireworks show, 10 p.m. Saturday, Long Beach (360-642-4421 or www.funbeach.com/).

Booming Bay Fireworks, Westport

SAT Fireworks show, 9 p.m. Saturday, Westport Marina, Westport (westportwa.com/events/).

Dock of the Bay Blues Festival and Old Fashioned Fourth of July, Westport

SAT Benefit for the Westport Maritime Museum; games, crafts fair, plant sale, food and music, beer garden, noon-5 p.m. Saturday, free; beginning at 5 p.m., Blues Festival tickets required, $10; Westport Maritime Museum, 2201 Westhaven Drive, Westport, Grays Harbor County (360-580-8891).

Fireworks at the Port

SAT Music, fireworks that begin at dark, 7 p.m. Saturday, Port of Ilwaco, Ilwaco (360-642-3400 or www.ilwacowashington.com).

Fourth of July Celebration, Chelan and Manson

FRI-SUN Arts and crafts fair, Friday-Sunday, fireworks dusk Friday, Manson; Rockin' Fireworks on the 5th, 10 p.m. Sunday, Chelan (www.cometothelake.com).

4th of July Celebration and Parade, Point Roberts

SAT "An Outer Space Fantasy" parade, family funfest food, games, entertainment, noon-6 p.m. Saturday, Lighthouse Marine Park, 811 Marine Drive, Point Roberts (360-945-0764 or www.pointrobertschamber.com).

Grand Coulee Dam

FRI-SAT Arts and crafts vendors, American Food Fair, entertainment, 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Friday-Saturday, Laser Light Show, 10 p.m. Friday-Saturday, fireworks off the top of the Dam on 10:35 p.m. Saturday, Grand Coulee Dam, Grand Coulee, Okanogan County (www.grandcouleedam.org/eventcalendarnew.htm).

4th of July Fireworks Display

SAT Fireworks display, dusk Saturday, Rock Creek Park, Stevenson (www.skamania.org).

Maryhill Museum of Art

Family Fun Day

SAT Picnic, visit from Smokey Bear, music, laser show. 5 -11 p.m. Saturday, Maryhill Museum of Art, 35 Maryhill Museum Drive, Goldendale, Klickitat County; $2-$7 (www.maryhillmuseum.org).