“Today” and “tonight” refer to Friday, July 4
FORKS — Forks goes all-out for the Fourth of July.
During three days of celebration, the town will offer salmon, pie and other food, a fun run, horse shoe and cribbage tournaments, two parades, drag races, a demolition derby, a frog-jumping contest and fireworks.
The theme is “liberty and justice for all.”
This year, the fireworks show at Tillicum Park will be a day later than usual. It will be on Saturday night instead of tonight, the Fourth of July.
And for the first time in more than 15 years, it won’t be produced by pyrotechnist Neil Turner of Hoodsport.
Turner died March 21 at the age of 50.
“He was one of our own,” said Mark Soderlind, chairman of the Forks Old Fashioned Fourth of July Committee. “His grandfather was born here. He had long roots in Forks.”
Another crew was assigned to the Forks fireworks show, necessitating the move to Saturday night, since all crews were involved with tonight’s events, Soderlind said.
New this year is the Forks of July SK8 Jam, a skateboarding competition and exhibitions, planned all day today at the Tillicum Park Skate Bowl.
SK8 Jam events include a barbecue and give-away, as well as a 1 p.m. public jam.
The Grand Parade, which will begin at noon today at the Forks Outfitters parking lot on Forks Avenue, will include three honorees: Grand Marshal Harry Reynolds, West End Historical Society Pioneer Worth Brandeberry and Home Town Hero Oscar Peterson.
The Kiddies Parade is planned immediately before the Grand Parade.
Today’s events will be capped by the 3 p.m. demolition derby at the Tillicum Park Arena. Entry to the derby is $8.
On Saturday, Forks hosts a full slate of family events, starting with a 9 a.m., 1 mile, 5K or 10K Forks Fourth of July Fun Run.
Participants are welcome to walk or run. Registration begins at 8 a.m. at the parking lot at 240 S. Forks Ave. Registration is $25.
At Tillicum Park, events include an 8:30 a.m. horseshoe tournament, noon Kiddies Play Day, and a 3 p.m. bean bag toss.
A pie-eating contest will begin at 5:30 p.m. at JT’s Sweet Stuffs, 86 N. Forks Ave. The entry fee is $10.
For those who prefer card games, a cribbage tournament will begin at 6 p.m. at the VFW Hall on South Spartan Ave. The entry fee for the card games is $6.
The fireworks show will begin at about 10:20 p.m. at Tillicum Park.
On Saturday and Sunday, West End Thunder’s drag races and car shows spark a light at the Forks Municipal Airport,
Racing will begin at 10 a.m. both days, with gates opening at 7 a.m. for drivers and an hour before race time for spectators.
Spectators pay $10 each day. Children 12 and younger will be admitted free.
Registration for the car and motorcycle show is $15 each day. Drag-race registration is $30 daily.
Overnight camping costs $10. Electricity and water hookups are not available.
The Arlen Pearsall Memorial Race will be Sunday, weather permitting.
Pearsall, a founding member of the West End Thunder and the club’s tech inspector, died Feb. 7 at the age of 78.
The Fourth of July weekend will conclude some 80 to 100 frogs competing at the Forks Frog Jump Contest at 1 p.m. at Tillicum Park.
Prizes will be awarded for the longest, second longest, and shortest jumps by frogs.
“Bring your own frog. If you don’t have one, you can borrow one from someone else,” said Nerissa Davis, organizer of the event.
Most entrants are caught in local creeks and ponds, and are returned after the contest,” Davis said.
Entry is free. Frogs must be kept in a container where they can stay moist, not in a box, she said.
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Reporter Arwyn Rice can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5070, or at arwyn.rice@peninsuladailynews.com.
News Assistant Laura Lofgren contributed to this report.
