Friday, Jul. 03, 2009

Get set for fun on the Fourth

By Dori O'Neal, Herald staff writer

All sorts of revelry will explode around the Mid-Columbia this Fourth of July weekend from fireworks to music to just plain fun.

Pasco Parks and Recreation Department's Grand Old Fourth and the Tri-City Regional Chamber of Commerce River of Fire celebrations feature events for the entire family.

Pasco

Pasco's events start July 3 with a car show. Car registration is from 3 to 5 p.m. at TRAC. From 5 to 9 p.m. there will be a public barbecue at Cousins Restaurant across from TRAC off Road 68. Cost is $5.

Then at 7 p.m., the rock band Retread will provide dance music in the parking lot at TRAC. That will be followed by a showing of the movie American Graffiti at 9 p.m. on a large outdoor screen. Both events are free.

On July 4, the Kiwanians plan a pancake breakfast from 7 a.m. to noon in Memorial Park, corner of 14th Avenue and Clark Street. Cost is $5 for adults and $3 for kids.

The Independence Day parade is from 9:45 to 11:30 a.m., starting at Fourth Avenue and traveling west on Sylvester Street, south on 14th Avenue, east on Clark Street and ending at the corner of 12th Avenue and Clark Street.

A car show and slow drags are from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at TRAC followed at 7 p.m. by a pre-fireworks show featuring The Beach Toys, who perform the music of the Beach Boys, Monkees and Beatles at Gesa Stadium next to TRAC. The fireworks show starts about 10 p.m. at the stadium. Admission to all events is free.

Kennewick

The barge will be back on the Columbia River for the giant fireworks display this year. The Tri-City Regional Chamber was unable to secure a barge for the fireworks last year and had to set them off from the Lampson pits at the east end of Columbia Park.

"For the past several months some very determined people have worked to bring it back," said Tracie Arnold, communications director for the chamber.

"The show just wasn't the same last year with the fireworks shooting from land, and we are so very fortunate that everything's come together this year to shoot from the river again as it's been for many, many years."

Admission to festivities for the River of Fire event on July 4 in Columbia Park cost $7 a carload. Proceeds go to next year's fireworks show.

There are cardboard boat races in the morning with viewing at 8 a.m. and racing at 10 a.m.

The kids area opens at noon at the Playground of Dreams. BigTop the Clown will make his appearances at 4 p.m. and stay through the fireworks show, which starts at dusk.

There also will be trolley rides for families that go from the fishing pond, along the shoreline and past the bleachers. Rides cost $1 for adults and 50 cents for kids.

Live musical entertainment starts at 12:15 p.m. with Dara Quinn performing jazz and funk. She'll be followed by Mwanza, an experimental/alternative music group, at 2 p.m., Indie rock band Low-Fi at 3 p.m., alt-rock band Run From Cover at 4 p.m., rock band the Back Row Kings at 6 p.m., folk musician Karli Fairbanks at 7 p.m. and pop/alternative group Chase and The Reach at 8 p.m.

Walla Walla

The annual 4th of July in the park celebration is from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. in Pioneer Park, bordered by Alder, Division and Whitman streets. There will be arts and crafts, food, kids activities and entertainment. The fireworks display will be near Fort Walla Walla Park and the Walla Walla Veterans Hospital.

Connell

Celebrate the holiday with free swimming at the city pool from noon to 5 p.m. July 4. Admission is a canned food donation. Games will be played during the day in Pioneer Park. The fireworks show starts about 9 p.m.

Othello

Sun Faire in Othello begins with a 1-mile fun run and 5- and 10-kilometer races at 8 a.m. at the north side of Lions Park. A parade through the city begins at 10 a.m. and ends at Lions Park. There's also a 3-on-3 basketball tournament and a demolition derby at the Othello Rodeo Grounds starting with time trials at 5 p.m. The fireworks show is at 10 p.m. in Lions Park. Information: 800-684-2556 or 509-488-2683 or www.othellochamber.com.

Hermiston

Gates at the Umatilla County Fairgrounds open at 6 p.m. There will be games for the kids and live entertainment until the fireworks show. Food vendors will be available.

Boardman

A parade starts at 11 a.m. July 4 on Front Street, heads east to Main Street, turns onto Columbia Street then to Second Street and finishes at the east end of Boardman Avenue. A fireworks show on the river starts at dusk.

◗ Dori O'Neal: 582-1514; doneal@tricityherald.com