Originally published July 3, 2008 at 12:00 AM | Page modified July 3, 2008 at 5:34 PM

Go Fourth to multiple celebrations

Party like a patriot Friday with festivities and fireworks around the region this Fourth of July. Sure, you can see the big fireworks shows...

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CLIFF JETTE / THE SEATTLE TIMES, 2000

Lake Union will be just one of the places around the area to see fireworks Friday.

Map of Fourth events

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Party like a patriot Friday with festivities and fireworks around the region this Fourth of July. Sure, you can see the big fireworks shows on TV, but there's nothing quite like oohing and aahing at the colorful pyrotechnics along with your friends and neighbors. As our second president, John Adams, advised, Independence Day ought to be celebrated by "pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations from one end of this continent to the other." A host of local events are ready to fill the bill.

Pack up your blanket, lawn chairs and a picnic and head to your annual favorite event or try out something new. Parking can be a challenge, so leave early, or better yet, ride your bike, take the bus or walk. Some venues offer shuttle bus service and off-site parking, and some streets near large events may be closed or otherwise restricted. Alcohol isn't allowed 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

WaMu Playfield with giant slide and other family activities and games, noon-8 p.m.; food and beverage vendors, noon-10 p.m.; lakeside beer garden, noon-9:30 p.m.; fireworks over the lake at dusk; accessible viewing area for people with disabilities opens at 6 p.m.; food and coolers (subject to search) allowed into park; no personal barbecues or alcoholic beverages allowed, no animals allowed, Gas Works Park, 2101 N. Northlake Way, Seattle; local parking options limited, streets immediately surrounding the park closed at 5 p.m.; bicycle parking available; no boats allowed on the north end of Lake Union (206-684-4075 or familyfourth.org).

Museum of Flight's 27 Flags Show

A salute to the American flag with all 27 versions that have officially represented the United States, 11 a.m.-noon Friday, Skyway Post 9430 of the Veterans of Foreign Wars salute to the American flag, from the first 13-star flag authorized by Congress in 1777 to today's 50-star flag, accompanied with the story of its symbolism in educational program for all ages, 2-3 p.m. Friday, Museum of Flight, 9404 E. Marginal Way S., Seattle; $7.50-$13 (206-764-5720 or www.museumofflight.org).

Naturalization Ceremony

Ethnic Heritage Council hosts annual ceremony as more than 500 petitioners from more than 75 countries are sworn in as United States citizens; Navy Band Northwest, 11 a.m., formal program with speakers including Gov. Christine Gregoire, U.S. Reps. Jim McDermott and Dave Reichert, Master of Ceremonies Mayor Greg Nickels, performances by Native American storyteller Gene Tagaban and the Total Experience Gospel Choir, noon-4 p.m. Friday, Center House, Seattle Center (206-684-7200 or www.ethnicheritagecouncil.org).

Elliott Bay fireworks

Fireworks show to synchronized music over Elliott Bay, 10 p.m. Friday, Myrtle Edwards Park, 3130 Alaskan Way W., Seattle (206-684-4075 or www.ivars.net).

Fish and Fireworks on the Fourth

Music by Recess Monkeys band, food vendors, aquarium exhibits, outside viewing of the Ivar's Elliott Bay fireworks, 7 p.m.-midnight Friday, Seattle Aquarium, Seattle; $20-$28 (206-386-4330 or www.seattleaquarium.org).

Fourth of July bash

Picnic buffet, dancing, karaoke, games, indoor and outdoor view of the Lake Union fireworks, 6:30 p.m. Friday, Swedish Cultural Center, 1920 Dexter Ave. N., Seattle; $33/adults, $12/ages 9 and younger, reservations required (206-523-9570).

Eastside

Bellevue Family 4th

Bellevue Bellevue Parks Family Fun Zone children's activities, 2 p.m.-evening; entertainment, 4-8:30 p.m.; C-17 flyover from McChord Air Force Base, 4:40 p.m.; Bellevue Philharmonic Orchestra performance, 9:20 p.m., and accompanying the fireworks display, 10:05 p.m. Friday, Bellevue Downtown Park, 10201 N.E. Fourth St., Bellevue; free parking available at Bellevue Square after 6 p.m. (425-453-1223 or www.bellevuedowntown.com).

Kirkland 4th of July Festivities

Kirkland Theme "Space, the final frontier" celebrating 50 years of NASA; kids' space-themed art activities, 10 a.m., Marina Park Pavilion; children's parade, 11:30 a.m., staging at Marina Park, grand parade at noon, on Central Avenue from Market Street to Third Street, on Third Street to Kirkland Avenue to Marina Park; community picnic with music, food vendors, games, Duck Race Rotary charity fundraiser, 1:30-6 p.m., Juanita Beach Park, Kirkland; fireworks display, 10 p.m. Friday, Marina Park, 25 Lake Shore Plaza, Kirkland (425-587-3300 or www.ci.kirkland.wa.us). 4th of July Weekend Farm Celebration

Redmond Wagon ride around the farm, storytelling, U-pick fields, farmstand, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Friday, Saturday, Sunday, South 47 Farm, 15410 N.E. 124th St., Redmond (425-869-9777 or www.south47farm.com).

Fourth on the Plateau

Sammamish Music, food vendors, children's playground, 6 p.m., fireworks display, 10:15 p.m. Friday, Sammamish Commons Park, 801 228th Ave. S.E., Sammamish (425-295-0500 or www.ci.sammamish.wa.us/4thjuly.aspx).

Bluesfest

Woodinville Crafts, games, food vendors, music by three bands, 3:30-8:30 p.m. Friday, Wilmot Gateway Park, 17301 131st Ave. N.E., Woodinville (425-984-2346 or www.ci.woodinville.wa.us).

Carnation Celebration

Carnation Pancake breakfast, 8-11 a.m., Tolt Congregational Church; 5K Run for the Pies, register 7:30 a.m., run 8:30 a.m., Tolt Avenue and Commercial Street; kiddie parade, 10:30 a.m.; grand parade down Main Street, 11 a.m.; Hot Rods and Harleys car and motorcycle show, noon-4 p.m., $20/preregister, $25/8 a.m. day of event to participate, free for spectators; vendor village, all day; entertainment, post-parade-3 p.m. in downtown Carnation, 4-10 p.m. at Tolt-MacDonald Park, fireworks display at dusk Friday, Carnation (www.carnation4th.org/).

South

Burien Family Days and Parade

Burien Community parade with marching bands, floats, clowns and antique cars, 3 p.m. Friday, downtown Burien (discoverburien.com).

Fireworks Over Des Moines

Des Moines Music, family activities, food, arts and crafts vendors, 6 p.m., fireworks display, dusk Friday, Des Moines Marina, 22307 Dock St., Des Moines (206-870-6527 or www.desmoineswa.gov).

Family 4th at the Fort

Tukwila Kids' activities, entertainment, food vendors, 2-11 p.m., fireworks display to celebrate Tukwila's Centennial and Independence Day, 10 p.m. Friday, Fort Dent Park, 6800 Fort Dent Way, Tukwila (206-768-2822 or www.ci.tukwila.wa.us/recreation/recevent.html).

4th of July in Renton

Renton Children's activities, noon-8 p.m., entertainment, 1-9:30 p.m., fireworks display over Lake Washington, 10 p.m. Friday, Gene Coulon Memorial Beach Park, 1201 Lake Washington Blvd., Renton; on-site parking limited, free shuttle bus 9 a.m.-midnight from event parking in Boeing lots at North Sixth Street and Park Avenue North and North Sixth Street and Garden Avenue North, Renton; additional parking available for a fee at the Bristol Apartments at Southport along Lake Washington, located between Gene Coulon Memorial Beach Park and Boeing (425-430-6600 or rentonwa.gov).

4th of July Festival

Auburn Kids' bike parade, entertainment on two stages, inflatable rides, climbing wall, petting zoo, car show, games, craft and book sale, food vendors, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Friday, Les Gove Park, 11th Street and Auburn Way South, Auburn; admission free, unlimited rides/activities $5 (253-931-3043 or www.auburnwa.gov).

Fourth of July Splash

Kent Classic-car show, old-fashioned games, entertainment, athletic and art activities, noon-9 p.m., fireworks display accompanied by Rainier Symphony, 10 p.m. Friday, Lake Meridian Park, 14800 S.E. 272nd St., Kent; free shuttle bus approximately every 20 minutes from Kent Fire Station 75, 15635 S.E. 272nd St., Kentwood High School, 25800 164th Ave. S.E. and the 132nd Street Park and Ride, Kent (253-856-5050 or www.ci.kent.wa.us/arts).

Red, White and Blues Festival

Federal Way Old-fashioned games, soccer, flag football, volleyball, preschoolers' play area, entertainment on two stages, food vendors, dance, fireworks display, 6-10:30 p.m. Friday, Celebration Park, 1095 S. 324th St., Federal Way; parking $5-$7 (253-835-6900 or www.cityoffederalway.com).

Stars and Stripes 4th of July Celebration

Enumclaw Opening ceremonies with speakers, patriotic music, noon; entertainment, 1-6 p.m.; carnival activities, food vendors, 1:30-5:30 p.m.; parade on Cole Street, 6 p.m.; fireworks display at dusk, Friday, Enumclaw Expo Center, 45224 284th Ave. S.E., Enumclaw (206-296-8892 or www.ci.enumclaw.wa.us).

Tacoma Freedom Fair and Air Show

Tacoma Outdoor market, international food fair, Lost Boys Pirate Cove children's activities, Camp Patriot to honor community heroes, car show, entertainment, fireworks display, 10 a.m.-10:30 p.m. Friday, Waterfront Park, Tacoma (www.freedomfair.com/).

North

Family 4th of July

Mountlake Terrace Music, children's activities, food vendors, fireworks show at dusk, 7-10:30 p.m. Friday, Evergreen Playfields, 22400 56th Ave. W., Mountlake Terrace (425-776-1161 or mltrec.com).

Lynnwood Star-Spangled Celebration

Lynnwood Kids' activities, music, food vendors, fireworks show, 7-10:30 p.m. Friday, Lynnwood Athletic Complex, 3003 184th St. S.W., Lynnwood (425-670-5732 or www.ci.lynnwood.wa.us).

An Edmonds Kind of Fourth

Edmonds 5K fun run, 10 a.m., children's parade, 11:30 a.m., main parade, noon, city park activities, 2 p.m., entertainment 7:30 p.m., fireworks show, 10 p.m. Friday, Edmonds Civic Stadium and Playfield, Sixth Avenue North and Bell Street, Edmonds (www.edmondswa.com).

Bothell Freedom Festival

Bothell Pancake breakfast, 8:30-10:30 a.m., Downtown Firehouse, Bothell; children's parade, 11:15 a.m., grand parade, noon, on Main Street, then north on Bothell-Everett Highway to Northeast 188th St., Bothell; children's rides, 1-3 p.m.; Bothell Historical Museum tours, 1-4 p.m.; patriotic favorites concert, 1:30 p.m.; re-enactment of the battle of Concord, 2 p.m. Friday, Bothell Landing, Woodinville Drive and 100th Avenue Northeast, Bothell (425-486-7430 or www.ci.bothell.wa.us).

Fourth of July Fireworks

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

Colors of Freedom Festival and Thunder-on-the-Bay Fireworks

Everett Parade with dancers, drill teams and musicians, 11 a.m.; street fair, children's activities, music, food fair, fireworks show over Port Gardner Bay, 11 a.m.-10:30 p.m. Friday, Legion Memorial Park, 145 Alverson Blvd. at Marine View Drive, Everett (425-257-7101 or www.everettwa.org).

Evergreen Speedway

Monroe Auto racing and demolition derby, fireworks at dusk, 3:30 p.m. Friday, Evergreen State Fairgrounds, 14405 179th Ave. S.E., Monroe; $5.50-$25 (360-805-6700 or www.evergreenspeedway.net).

Arlington Days Festival

Arlington Pancake breakfast 7-10 a.m., parade 5 p.m., rubber-duck race, fireworks display at dusk, Friday, Arlington (360-403-3421 or www.ci.arlington.wa.us).

Around the Sound

Grand Old Fourth

Bainbridge Island Pancake breakfast, 7-11 a.m.; run to benefit Bainbridge Youth Services, register 7:30 a.m. at Winslow Mall; teen party, 11 a.m.-1 p.m.; classic-car show, arts and crafts fair, street fair entertainment and games, beer and wine garden, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; parade, 1 p.m. Friday, Winslow Way, Bainbridge Island (206-842-3700 or www.bichamberevents.com). Sinclair Inlet Fireworks Show

Port Orchard Fireworks show, 10:30 p.m. Friday, view from Port Orchard, Bremerton, Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Main Street and waterfront, Port Orchard (www.fathomsoffun.org).

Old Fashioned 4th of July

Oak Harbor Carnival, parade, Navy flyover and fireworks display, 11 a.m.-10:30 p.m. Friday, Windjammer Park, 1600 S.E. Beeksma Drive, Oak Harbor (www.oakharborchamber.com).

Anacortes Independence Day

Anacortes Parade, old-time games, patriotic program, food, fireworks display, 10 a.m.-10:30 p.m. Friday, Causland Park, Eighth Street and N Avenue, Anacortes (www.anacobayinn.com).

Around the state

Fourth of July on Hood Canal

Union Music, dance, fireworks display, 4-10:30 p.m. today, Alderbrook Resort and Spa, 7101 E. Highway 106, Union; $5, ages 11 and younger free (360-898-2200 or www.alderbrookresort.com).

4th of July Celebration

Port Angeles Music, parade, food booths and fireworks display, 3-10:30 p.m. Friday, Port Angeles City Pier, Railroad and Lincoln Streets, Port Angeles (www.portangeles.org).

An Old-Fashioned 4th Festival

Blaine Street fair, music, arts and crafts, car show, children's parade, 11 a.m., followed by grand parade, fireworks, 10 a.m.-10:30 p.m. Friday, Blaine (360-332-4544 or www.birchbayvillage.com/).

Splash Festival

Aberdeen Arts and crafts, food vendors, carnival, games and fireworks display over the Chehalis River, noon-10:30 p.m. Friday, Morrison Riverfront Park, Aberdeen (800-621-9625 or www.tourismgraysharbor.com).

Forks Old Fashioned 4th of July Celebration

Forks Parade and fireworks display, Friday, downtown Forks, Clallam County (360-374-5412 or www.forkswashington.org).

Fireworks on the Beach

Long Beach Fireworks show, 10 p.m. Friday, Long Beach (800-451-2542 or www.funbeach.com/events/independence/index.html).

Booming Bay Fireworks Display

Westport Fireworks, 10 p.m. Friday, Westport Marina, Westport (800-345-6223 or www.westportwa.com).

Fourth of July Celebration

Leavenworth Inflatable games and other kids' activities, Friday, downtown Leavenworth (509-548-5807 or www.leavenworth.org).

Fireworks on the 5th, Chelan

Chelan Fireworks from a barge on the lake, 10 p.m. Saturday, Chelan (509-682-4322 or www.historicchelan.org).

Grand Coulee Dam

Grand Coulee Kids' games, food, arts and crafts, laser show and fireworks display. 10 a.m.-10:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Grand Coulee Dam, Grand Coulee, Okanogan County (800-268-3552 or www.grandcouleedam.org/).

Fireworks at the Port

Ilwaco Fireworks show, 10 p.m. Saturday, Ilwaco (www.funbeach.com/events/independence/index.html).

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