Paint the night red, white and blue

An expanded fourth of July celebration in Blaine this year is drawing on the resources and energy of a number of community groups to offer more than a parade and fireworks. “What we’re trying to do is make it more than a chamber event but spread it out through the community,” said Blaine chamber president Pam Christianson. “It’s the only way it can grow.”

The day will kick off with an 8:30 a.m. pancake breakfast at the community center on H Street, sponsored by the Blaine Senior Center. After a break to give people time to get into parade gear, the parade will assemble at the library and run down Peace Portal Drive. “It’ll be big,” Christianson said.

After the parade events will be spread between downtown, Blaine Marine Park and across the water at Resort Semiahmoo. At the park, the Blaine ministerial association is sponsoring a community picnic and an afternoon of jazz. It starts at 1 p.m. with the Blues for Four jazz ensemble, sponsored by Saint Anne’s church. The are followed at 3 p.m. by the Soul Plumbers, made up of local church members. Other church groups may also perform. “Our goal was to invite people for a traditional family picnic and have some music for them,” said ministerial association president Father Tim Sauer.

The Plover will run people over to Semiahmoo where there will be a salmon barbecue from 5-9 p.m.

Downtown, the chamber is coordinating a beer garden, arts and crafts fair and outdoor food court. Joining a dozen vendors at the fair, the Boys and Girls Club will be manning the dunk tank and Blaine high school cheerleaders will offer face painting. Several local car clubs are planning a spontaneous show and shine in the Sterling Savings Bank parking lot. Sardis Wildlife Center will have a demonstration at 1 p.m.

The beer garden will be in the Pizza Factory parking lot and across from it will be half a dozen food vendors – from Asian food to hot dogs.

There will be music all afternoon by local bands including The Rockerfellas, Gary’s Project, Rising Son, Gloria Dawn and Wildfire. The last performance of the evening, Wildfire, has offered to play the Star-Spangled Banner to lead off the day’s crowning glory – a $10,000 fireworks display.

“We’re going as patriotic as we can be – anything in red, white and blue,” said Christianson. She added they are still fundraising to meet the price of the performance which they booked right after last year’s acclaimed show. “Because we signed early we got a few extra fireworks, otherwise it’s about the same as last year unless someone came up to me with $5,000,” Christianson said.

Fireworks start at 10 p.m. at Blaine Marine Park. .
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