You can find some truly fun and festive Independence Day celebrations around the state of Washington. The presence of large bodies of water allows for some spectacular fireworks shows. You'll also find smaller community festivities featuring picnics, parades, music, and more. Many of these small town celebrations make an excellent excuse to plan a long weekend getaway. While Western Washington locales typically include fireworks in their July 4th celebrations, drier Eastern Washington conditions often prohibit such activity.
Here are the 2012 Independence Day celebrations scheduled to take place around Washington. Firework shows typically commence at dusk or dark, which is around 10:15 to 10:30 in the Seattle area. Unless otherwise noted, events are free and will take place on July 4.
Celebrate Independence Day in the Seattle Metro Area (Pierce, King, and Snohomish Counties)
Family Fourth at Lake Union
Gas Works Park
Noon to 11 pm
Games and picnicking during the day, fireworks at dark.
Bellevue Family 4th
Bellevue Downtown Park
2 to 10:30 pm
Music, food, and child-friendly activities during the day, fireworks at dark.
Tacoma Freedom Fair
Ruston Way Waterfront
10 am to 10:30 pm
Air show, contests, car show, food booth and music, fireworks at dusk.
Donations requested.
Everett's Colors of Freedom 4th of July Festival
Legion Memorial Park
11 am to 11 pm
Downtown parade, food booths, live music, fireworks over Port Gardner Bay.
Auburn 4th of July Festival
Les Grove Park
11 am to 4 pm
Kid-friendly activities such as parade, petting zoo, food, and music.
Carnation Fourth of July
Tolt Commons Park
Variety of events including pancake breakfast, late morning parade, car show, food and music, fireworks at dusk.
Celebrate Kirkland
Downtown parade in late morning
Food and music in Marina Park from 1 pm
Fireworks at dark, visible from Marina Park, Heritage Park, and boats on Lake Washington.
Fireworks Over Des Moines
Des Moines Marina
10 pm
Fireworks show over Puget Sound, visible from marina and from Beach Park.
$1 donation suggested.
An Edmonds Kind of Fourth
Civic Stadium and Downtown Edmonds
10 am to 10 pm
Downtown fun run and parades, fireworks from Civic Stadium at dark.
Kent Fourth of July Splash
Lake Meridian Park
Noon to 11 pm
Community games, boat parade, car show, firworks display over Lake Meridian.
Renton Fabulous 4th of July
Gene Coulon Memorial Beach Park
Begins at noon
Live entertainment, food booths, kids activities, fireworks over Lake Washington.
Sammamish Fourth on the Plateau
Sammamish Commons Park
Starts at 6 pm
Food and music, children's playground, fireworks at dark.
Tukwila Family 4th at the Fort
Fort Dent Park
6 to 10 pm
Kids play space, food and music, firworks at dark.
Celebrate Independence Day in Western Washington
Anacortes Independence Day
Causland Memorial Park
11 am to 11 pm
Parade and John Curtis Memorial Fireworks Display over Fidalgo Bay at dusk.
Bainbridge Island Grand Old Fourth
Winslow Mall and Waterfront Park
Variety of events including pancake breakfast, street fair, parade, and car show.
Bellingham Haggen Family 4th of July Celebration
Zuanich Park
1 to 10 pm
Food and vendor booths, music, Kids Zone, beer garden, fireworks at dusk.
Kingston 4th of July Celebration
Tiny Town kids' festivities in Kola Kole Park 10 am - 5 pm (July 2-4)
Music festival in Mike Wallace Park 4 to 10 pm (July 4)
Fireworks over Apple Tree Cove
La Conner Parade, Picnic, & Fireworks
Pioneer Park
12:30 to 4 pm, July 3
Dowtown parade followed by community picnic, fireworks over Swinomish Channel at 10 pm.
Long Beach Fireworks on the Beach
Long Beach Boardwalk
Fireworks around 9:30 to 10 pm
Oak Harbor Old Fashioned 4th of July
Windjammer Park
11 am to 10 pm
Parade and fireworks at dusk.
Port Angeles 4th of July Celebration
Port Angeles City Pier
6 to 10 pm
Evening parade followed by live music and fireworks from Francis Street Park at dusk.
Poulsbo Third of July Fireworks Show
Waterfront and Liberty Bay Park
Noon to 10 pm, July 3
Music, food, vendors, and fireworks.
Westport Booming Bay Fireworks
Westport Marina
Fireworks at dusk.
Celebrate Independence Day in Eastern Washington
Grand Coulee Dam Festival of America
Park below Grand Coulee Dam Visitor Center
Art, Craft, & Food Fair 11 am to 10 pm (July 4 - 6)
Fireworks display after Laser Show (July 4)
Leavenworth Kinderfest
Front Street
10 am to 2 pm
Games for kids and families.
Pasco Grand Old 4th of July Celebration
Gesa Stadium
10 am to 10 pm
Fun run, downtown parade, fireworks at dusk.
Richland River of Fire Festival in Columbia Park
Columbia Park
All day festivities, fireworks at dark.
Admission fee per carload.
Spokane 4th of July Celebration
Riverfront Park
Family-friendly activities, music, food and craft booths, fireworks at dark.
Yakima's 4th of July
Yakima State Fair Park
Noon to 10 pm
Vendor and food booths, kids activities, carnival rides, live entertainment, fireworks at 10 pm.
