Fourth of July activities are set across the North Olympic Peninsula.
Most celebrations are scheduled Tuesday except in Forks. That West End community has, as usual, gone all out for Independence Day with myriad events set from today through Tuesday during its Forks Old Fashioned 4th of July with its “America the Beautiful” theme.
Public fireworks are planned in Port Angeles, Sequim and Forks, while patriotic music will be heard from Forks to Port Townsend on the Fourth.
Port Angeles
Port Angeles plans a special edition Fourth of July celebration with the theme of “Anchored in Tradition, Sailing Toward the Future,” to mark the 100-year anniversary of the Port of Port Angeles.
The three port commissioners — Connie Beuvais, Colleen McAleer and Steven Burke — will be the grand marshals of this year’s parade in downtown Port Angeles, which starts at 6 p.m.
The day, however, will be packed with activities before and after the parade, with significant participation this year by the U.S. Navy.
The USS Momsen — an active-duty, destroyer-class Navy ship — will dock at the port’s Terminal 3 in Port Angeles Harbor sometime on Monday with about 350 sailors aboard. The sailors will come ashore in shifts of 150 and will participate in most of the town’s activities on the Fourth.
The crew members also will lead free tours of the ship from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the Fourth. The waiting line will be closed after 3 p.m. to ensure tours conclude on time. All visitors will need government-issued photo identification, and pass through an airport-style security screening checkpoint prior to boarding the ship.
Port Angeles’ celebration will begin at 6 p.m. Monday night with the Navy Northwest Band playing a free concert on City Pier.
On the Fourth of July, admission to events will be free.
Here is the schedule:
• 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. — Apple Pie Baking Contest on City Pier.
• 11 a.m. — Cornhole Tournament and Lefties Beer Garden at Pebble Beach Park on the corner of Oak Street and Railroad Avenue; and Pickleball Tournament at the upper parking lot at The Wharf at 115 E. Railroad Ave.
• Noon — Kids Zone in The Gateway transit center at Front and Lincoln streets; roller skating at 121 W. Front St.; and vendors open at transit center’s bus lanes.
• 1 p.m. — Navy Northwest Brass Band on City Pier.
• 2 p.m. — Hot Dog Eating Contest on City Pier.
• 3 p.m. — Lawnmower Derby on City Pier.
• 6 p.m. — Fourth of July parade.
• 8 p.m. — Fat Chance Concert, free on City Pier.
• 10:15 p.m. — Fireworks show, centered at Pebble Beach.
The staging location for the annual parade has changed. It will be at the intersection of Second and Valley streets. Nearby streets will be closed at 5:30 p.m.
The parade route will be Valley Street, turn right on First Street, turn left on Laurel Street down to the Black Ball Ferry terminal, turn left on Railroad Avenue, left on Oak Street, and then right on Front Street out to Marine Drive.
For more information, see the chamber website at https://www.portangeles.org.
Forks
The Forks Old Fashioned 4th of July began Thursday with businesses encouraged to decorate their windows for the holiday.
Forever Twilight in Forks Collection will be closed on the Fourth of July but will be open from noon to 4 p.m. Thursday through Monday and from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday at 11 N. Forks Ave. See twilightmuseum.com for details.
Here is the Forks Fourth of July schedule:
Today
• 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. — Legion Riders will lay wreaths at the Gold Star Families Memorial Monument at the Forks Transit Center, 553 S. Forks Ave.
• 5 p.m. — Frog Jump, Tillicum Park.
Saturday
• 7 a.m. to 11 am. — American Legion July Breakfast, suggested donation $10, dine in or take out options, 651 E. Division.
• 9 a.m. — Fun Run of one mile, 5K or 10K; registration at 8 a.m. Entry fee $10, with proceeds going to United Way of Clallam County. Meet in parking lot behind Mocha Motion on Forks Avenue. Also at 9 a.m., horseshoe tournament at Tillicum Park. Entry fee $10.
• 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. — Archery Tag Tournament, $25 per team or $5 per person, Tillicum Park Ball Fields.
• 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. — Vendors in the Park, Tillicum Park, see above for registration information.
• Noon to 5 p.m. — Fourth of July Art, Craft & Photography Show, free entries, which were accepted between noon and 6 p.m. on Friday at the Rainforest Arts Center, 35 N. Forks Ave.
• 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. — “Paddle Battle in Forks” Pickleball Tournament, $5 entry fee. Pre-register at 360-640-3543.
• 5:30 p.m. — Forks Elks Membership Drive, $10 cover charge, live music by Richwine Road Band starting at 7:30 p.m., Forks Elks Lodge, 941 Merchant Road.
• 6 p.m. — Cribbage Tournament, entry fee $10, Forks Congregational Church, 280 Spartan Ave.
• 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. — Fourth of July Art, Craft & Photography Show; Moonlight Madness with Forks Avenue closed between Calawah and Bogachiel, featuring music by DJ Camello. Forks Lions Club Beer Garden, vendors.
Sunday
• Noon to 2 p.m. — Kiddies Play Day sponsored by Forks Lions Club, Tillicum Park, 360-640-3123.
• Noon to 4 p.m. — Fourth of July Art, Craft & Photography Show.
• 3 p.m. — Sacks Tournament, entry fee $50 day of. Tillicum Park.
Monday
• 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. — Forks Timber Museum, 1421 S. Forks Ave., and Forks Visitor Information Center, 1411 S. Forks Ave.
• 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. — John’s Beachcombing Museum, 143 Andersonville Ave.
Tuesday
• 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. — Elks annual Forks 4th of July Breakfast, cost adults $15, kids 12 and under $10, Forks Elks Lodge, 941 Merchant Road, 360-374-2524.
• 8 a.m. — Garrison Flag Raising at Tillicum Park by the mayor and U.S. Coast Guard Station Quillayute River.
• 8 a.m. — Check-in for Grand Parade at Forks Outfitters parking lot.
• 8:30 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. — Sign-ups for Kiddies Parade begins, Peninsula College parking lot, 481 S. Forks Ave.
• 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. — Fourth of July Art, Craft & Photography Show.
• 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. — Vendors in Tillicum Park.
• Noon — Forks Grand Parade begins from Forks Outfitters parking lot.
• 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. — Salmon Bake; $20 for adults, $10 12 and under, Tillicum Park.
• 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. — Forks Timber Museum open.
• 3 p.m. — Demolition Derby gates open at 1 p.m., Tillicum Park arena. Derby tickets available for purchase at Forks Forum, 490 S. Forks Ave., between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m.
• Dusk — Fireworks at Tillicum Park.
Sequim
The Sequim City Band will kick off the celebration at 3 p.m. with a free concert at the James Center for the Performing Arts at Carrie Blake Park, 500 N. Blake Ave.
The show will include a color guard presentation by the Dungeness Unit of the Cadet Color Guard of the Civil Air Patrol.
At 5:30 p.m., the Buck Ellard Band will perform, followed by Black Diamond Junction at 8 p.m.
KSQM FM 9.15 will broadcast live in between musical performances.
Carrie Blake Park amenities include horseshoe pits, bocce ball court, shuffleboard, gardens, off-leash dog park, pickleball courts, playground and ponds.
Entertainment will culminate with a 15-minute fireworks show at 10 p.m.
The “Let Your Little Light Shine,” Luminary Worship will take place from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m., while supplies last.
Cedars at Dungeness will host a beer and wine garden. The Sequim Valley Lions Club hot dog cart, Ulivo Pizzeria, Nomad Coffee, Cay Sal Frozen Pies, and NW Cold Treats will have food and beverage for purchase.
Parking is available in the Water Reuse Site, Carrie Blake Park, Trinity United Methodist Church on Blake Avenue, Olympic View Church on Brown Road and the QFC parking lot.
Port Townsend
The Port Townsend Summer Band and the Community Chorus of Port Townsend and East Jefferson County are collaborating to present a free program of patriotic music in a Fourth of July concert at 6 p.m. at Pope Marine Park.
Families are encouraged to bring picnic suppers and lawn chairs.
Summer Band board president Tracy Wirta was inspired to reach out to the Community Chorus to collaborate on a concert for the Fourth.
“We were thrilled when we approached the chorus with the idea, and they said ‘yes.’ The partnership between the two musical groups seemed like a natural fit,” she said.
A subset of the full Community Chorus will perform with the band.
“We’re always looking for opportunities to sing, and we love it when other local music groups can join us, or in this case, when we can join them,” board president Linda Atkins said.
Port Townsend Summer Band will perform such familiar marches as “Liberty Bell” and “Stars and Stripes Forever” by John Philip Sousa, as well as “Midway March” by John Williams.
Familiar pieces performed with the chorus are to include “From Sea to Shining Sea,” “God Bless America” and “This Land is Your Land.”
The chorus also will sing “A Tribute to the Armed Services,” a medley of the official songs and hymns of the U.S. military service branches.
Port Hadlock
Live music will be performed at the Spirits Bar & Grill at the Old Alcohol Plant Inn, 310 Hadlock Bay Road in Port Hadlock, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday.
Barbecue and lawn games also are planned.
