Blaine’s Old-Fashioned Fourth of July parade and festival is expected to bring thousands of people to downtown on Friday, July 4 with a parade, street fair, car show and fireworks, among other celebrations.
The festival, which drew about 13,000 people last year, is being organized by Blaine-Birch Bay Park and Recreation District 2, in partnership with the city of Blaine.
“Blaine-Birch Bay Park and Recreation District 2 is really excited to share our love of community building with Blaine and all of the attendees,” said event coordinator Olea Mills. “At our core is creating these opportunities for the community to be together and celebrate the independence of our country.”
Independence Day celebrations will kick off at 8 a.m. with the annual pancake breakfast at the Blaine Community Center, 763 G Street. The breakfast, which runs until 11 a.m., will have pancakes, eggs, sausage, orange juice and coffee for a suggested donation of $10 per adult or $5 per child.
Friends of the Blaine Library will hold a book sale, selling an assortment of books, DVDs and CDs for all ages from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in front of Blaine Public Library, 610 3rd Street.
This year’s street fair will be the largest in recent years with over 120 vendors selling everything from woodworking to jewelry and home goods. The fair will start at 10 a.m. and run until the evening on H and 3rd streets. Food vendors will also be set up at both ends of the street fair to serve hot dogs, fry bread, ice cream, baked goods and other bites.
The “Red, White and Vroom Car Show” will bring dozens of pre-war luxury vehicles and restored muscle cars to Martin Street, next to Blaine City Hall. Participants may sign up the day-of, before judging starts at 11 a.m. Silver City Band will perform live music, and the winners will be announced at 1 p.m.
The old-fashioned parade will start at noon at Boblett Street and Peace Portal Drive. Floats will make their way north along Peace Portal Drive, ending around 1 p.m. at F Street. Local singer Grace Machado will sing the national anthem before the parade and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 9474 and fellow veterans will serve as color guard.
The kid zone will run 1-5 p.m. and have a DJ, dunk tank and lawn games at the intersection of H and 4th streets.
Border Town Pizza will host a beer garden from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the parking lot next to the restaurant, 738 Peace Portal Drive. Live music will also be at the beer garden, with Shannanagins performing at 1 p.m., followed by Queen’s Bluegrass at 2:30 p.m. and AntiShock at 4 p.m.
The holiday will end with a fireworks spectacular at 10:30 p.m. over Blaine Marine Park.
ADA parking will be available at 3rd and Steen streets.
To sign up for the parade, car show or to be a vendor, visit the BBBPRD2 website at bit.ly/3T7HSFp.
“We’ve tried to stay true to what has worked well in the past and what people have loved about the Fourth of July event,” Mills said.
