Whether you love the excitement of watching a world-class fireworks display or prefer the slow pace of a small-town parade, we've got plenty of patriotic events for your family  to plan your perfect Fourth. Here is a list of Fourth of July events taking place all around the Puget Sound.

 

Seattle Area

Burien. Annual Independence Day Parade. 3 to 5 p.m. FREE. Ambaum Boulevard S.W. and S.W. 149th Street, Burien. 206-575-3016. www.swkcc.org.

Kenmore. Fourth of July Fireworks Show. Fireworks show over Lake Washington, launched from the Log Boom Park pier. Includes food and glow-in-the-dark toy vendors. Bring a blanket or chair. 10 p.m. FREE. Log Boom Park, 6000 N.E. 175^th St., Kenmore. 425-398-8900. www.kenmorewa.gov/Page.aspx?cid=442. 

Renton. Fabulous Fourth of July. Kids’ activities and face painting (noon to 8 p.m.), live entertainment (1:30 to 9:30 p.m.), food for sale all day and fireworks (10 p.m.). No pets, alcohol or personal fireworks. Park opens 7 a.m. FREE. Gene Coulon Memorial Beach Park, 1201 Lake Washington Blvd. N., Renton. Limited parking. 425-430-6700. www.rentonwa.gov.

Seattle. Naturalization Ceremony. Witness more than 500 citizenship applicants from around the world being sworn in as new U.S. citizens. 11 a.m. concert, noon to 1 p.m. ceremony. FREE. Seattle Center, Fisher Pavilion, 305 Harrison St., Seattle. 206-443-1410. www.ethnicheritagecouncil.org.

Seattle. The Twenty-Seven Flags. Join the Veterans of Foreign Wars for an educational salute to all 27 historical versions of the American flag at Museum of Flight. 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Included with admission. $17, $14 seniors and active military, $9 ages 5 to 17, free ages 4 and younger. 9404 E. Marginal Way S., Seattle. 206-764-5720. www.museumofflight.org.

Seattle. Family Fourth at Lake Union. Food, playfield for all ages (hands-on activities, zip line, sack races, kite-making, inflatables and more), entertainment and fireworks (10 p.m.) choreographed to music broadcast on KING 5 TV and 97.3 FM. Noon. No pets, alcohol or personal fireworks. FREE. Gasworks Park, 2101 N. Northlake Way, Seattle. Very limited parking. 206-281-7788. http://family4th.org.

Tukwila. Tukwila’s Family Fourth at the Fort. Kids activities include inflatable bouncers and slides, food and entertainment. Bring a picnic. Park opens 9 a.m., activities start at 4 p.m., fireworks 10 p.m. Limited parking. FREE. Fort Dent Park, 6800 Fort Dent Way, Tukwila. 206-768-2822. www.ci.tukwila.wa.us/recreation/recevent.html.

Eastside

Bellevue. Bellevue Family Fourth. Live music, food, Family Fun Zone (2 to 8:30 p.m., interactive games, roving entertainers, mascots, inflatables, bungee trampoline and more), live entertainment (3:30 to 9:30 p.m.), and fireworks (10:05 p.m.) synchronized to music from Bellevue Youth Symphony Orchestra, broadcast on 106.1 FM and 94.1 FM. FREE, rides and trampoline $2 to $8, free parking at The Bellevue Collection and City Hall. No pets, bring a flashlight for safety. Bellevue Downtown Park, 10201 N.E. Fourth St., Bellevue. 425-452-4106. www.bellevuedowntown.org.

Carnation. The Great Carnation Fourth of July Celebration. Kiddie parade (10:30 a.m.) followed by grand parade, 5K run/walk, pancake breakfast, inflatables, live music, food, arts and crafts, Strawberry Shortcake Feast (10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Senior Center) and fireworks (10 p.m.). FREE, parking $5. Tolt-MacDonald Park, 31020 N.E. 40th St., Carnation. www.carnation4th.org.

Issaquah. Issaquah's Down Home Fourth & Heritage Day. Kids, Pets ‘n Pride Parade (11 a.m.), old-fashioned music, games, races, pony rides, inflatables and prizes. Bring a slug for slug races. 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. FREE. Downtown Issaquah and Memorial Park, Issaquah. 425-392-0661. www.salmondays.org/4th-of-july.html. 

Kirkland. Celebrate Kirkland! Children's parade (11:30 a.m.) followed by Community Parade, food and music (noon to 10 p.m.) and fireworks (10:15 p.m. – tentative depending on donations). Bring a flashlight, no dogs or alcohol. Marina Park, 25 Lakeshore Plaza Drive, Kirkland. 425-822-0284. www.celebratekirkland.org.

Newcastle. Fourth at the Lake Celebration. Gates open 5 p.m., food 6 p.m., live music 8 p.m., fireworks 10 p.m. FREE. Lake Boren Park, 13058 S.E. 84th Way, Newcastle. http://www.ci.newcastle.wa.us/parks/documents/2012Julywriteup.pdf.

Sammamish. Fourth on the Plateau. Music, food, Kids Zone and fireworks (10 p.m.). 6 p.m. FREE. Commons Park, 801 228th Ave. S.E., Sammamish. www.ci.sammamish.wa.us.

North Sound

Arlington. Frontier Days. Pancake breakfast (7 to 11 a.m., Haller Park), Pedal, Paddle, Puff Triathlon (10 a.m., Haller Park), Marshmallow Madness (1 to 3 p.m., Legion Park), kiddie parade (4:30 p.m., Olympic Avenue) followed by grand parade (5 p.m.), Stilly Duck Dash (7:30 p.m., Haller Park) and fireworks (dark, Quake Park, 18501 59th Ave.). 360-403-3448. www.arlingtonwa.gov/modules/showdocument.aspx?documentid=2151.

Bothell. Freedom Festival. Pancake breakfast (8:30 to 10:30 a.m., FREE, Downtown Fire House, 10726 Beardslee Blvd.), children's parade (11:15 a.m., Main Street and 103rd), grand parade (noon, Main Street and SR 527). FREE. Downtown Bothell. 425-486-7430. www.ci.bothell.wa.us/?p=1778.

Edmonds. An Edmonds Kind of 4th. Fun run (10 a.m.), children’s parade (11:30 a.m.), main parade (noon), firefighters waterball competition (2:30 p.m.), entertainment (7:30 p.m.) and fireworks (10 p.m.). No pets, alcohol or personal fireworks. FREE. Downtown Edmonds. 425-776-6711. www.edmondswa.com/events/fourth-of-july.html.

Everett. Colors of Freedom. Yankee Doodle Dash: 5K, 10K, 1-mile or free kids’ dash (8:30 a.m., $13 to $35. Everett Family YMCA, 2720 Rockefeller Ave., Everett. 425-258-9211. www.ymca-snoco.org). Fire on Ice: discounted public skate at Comcast Community Ice Rink (10 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., $4 includes skates. 2000 Hewitt Ave., Everett. 425-322-2650. www.comcastarenaeverett.com.). Imagine Children’s Museum: Two-for-one admission (noon to 4 p.m., military families free all day. 1502 Wall St., Everett. 425-258-1006. www.imaginecm.org/fourthofjuly.html). Downtown Parade: (11 a.m., Colby and Wetmore Avenues, between Wall and 26th Streets, Everett). Everett Police Department Open House: Meet detectives, crime scene investigators, robots, K-9 handlers, Colby the Crime Prevention Dog and others (noon to 4 p.m. 3002 Wetmore Ave., Everett). Fun in the Sun Street Fair: family activities and entertainment (1 to 3 p.m., FREE. First Baptist Church of Everett, 1616 Pacific Ave., Everett. 425-259-9166. www.fbc-everett.org). Colors of Freedom Festival: music, kid’s activities and food fair (1 to 11 p.m. FREE. Legion Memorial Park, 145 Alverson Blvd., Everett). Thunder on the Bay Fireworks: View from several spots on and near the Everett waterfront (10:20 p.m. 425-257-8700. www.ci.everett.wa.us/default.aspx?ID=1163). 

Stanwood. Mini parade and ice cream social. 11 a.m. Josephine Sunset Home parking lot, 9901 272nd Place N.W., Stanwood. 360-629-6110. http://stanwoodchamber.org/pages/local-events/july.php.

South Sound

Auburn. Fourth of July Festival. Kids’ bike parade (noon), live entertainment on two stages, inflatable rides, climbing wall and Euro-bungee trampolines, petting zoo and pony carousel, bingo, bocce, car show, laser tag, gaming stations, craft artists, book sale (9 a.m. to 4 p.m.), food concessions, spray park and more. 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. FREE, $5 unlimited rides. Les Gove Park, 1005 12th St. S.E., Auburn. 253-931-3043. www.auburnwa.gov/government/calendars/community/4th_festival_s_p6862.asp?EventMode=View&EventOccurrence=0. 

Des Moines. Fireworks over the historic Des Moines waterfront. 10 p.m. Bring a picnic, blanket or lawn chairs. $1 suggested donation. No alcohol, personal fireworks or pets. Des Moines Marina, 22307 Dock St., Des Moines. 206-824-5700. www.desmoineswa.gov/dept/parks_rec/events/fireworks.html.

Enumclaw. Stars & Stripes Celebration. Bike decorating for kids in parade (10 a.m.), parade (noon), fireworks (9:45 p.m. – tentative depending on donations). Various locations, Enumclaw. 360-825-3591. www.enumclawchamber.com/schedule/event/4th-of-july-parade-.

Federal Way. Red, White & Blues Festival. Music and entertainment, family games, hands-on art, hot dog-eating contest and fireworks (10:15 pm). Bring blankets and chairs. 6 p.m., $7 on-site parking opens 5 p.m. FREE. Celebration Park, 1095 S. 324th St., Federal Way. 253-835-6900. http://itallhappenshere.org/events.html.

Kent. Fourth of July Splash. Entertainment, pie eating contests, wooden toy boat building, inflatables, food booths, old-fashioned games and fireworks (10 p.m.). Noon. FREE. Lake Meridian Park, 14800 S.E. 272nd St., Kent. Free shuttles from Kentwood High School, 25800 164th Ave. S.E., Kent Fire Station #75, 15635 S.E. 272nd, and Meridian Elementary, 25621 140th Ave. S.E. 253-856-5050. www.ci.kent.wa.us/content.aspx?id=1408.

Puyallup. Foursquare Church Fourth of July City Blast. YMCA 5K/10K Run/Walk 7 a.m. $25 to $35. Puyallup Fair, Gold Gate entrance, 110 Ninth Ave. S.W., Puyallup. 253-848-9111. www.cityblast.org.

Tacoma. Freedom Fair. Arts and crafts, food, family activities, seven music areas, pole-vaulting, Camp Patriot at Marine Park, car show, Tacoma Freedom Air Show (1:30 to 3:30 p.m., donations accepted) and fireworks (10:10 p.m., synchronized to music on 106.9 FM and AM 1180). No pets. 10 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Suggested donation $5, $2 kids, $15 families. Ruston Way promenade bordering Commencement Bay, downtown Tacoma. Limited parking, directions online. 253-326-4444. www.freedomfair.com.

Tumwater. Artesian Family Festival & Thunder Valley Fireworks Show. Parade (11 a.m.), music, food, youth activities, games and fireworks (10:15). 6 p.m. FREE. Tumwater Valley Golf Course, 4611 Tumwater Valley Drive S.E., Tumwater. 253-754-4160. http://www.ci.tumwater.wa.us/summerspecial%20events.html.

Farther Afield

Bainbridge Island. Grand Old Fourth of July. Pancake breakfast, street fair, foot races, parade (1 p.m.), classic car show, historical baseball game, music, food, entertainment, pony rides, inflatables and more. 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Fireworks launched from a barge in Eagle Harbor (dusk – tentative depending on donations). FREE. Downtown Winslow, Bainbridge Island. 206-842-3700. www.bainbridgechamber.com/default.aspx?ID=47.

Kingston. Kingston Fourth of July Celebration. “Tiny Town” kids’ area with games, entertainment, pony rides, food and craft vendors and tot play area (10 a.m. to 5 p.m., fees for some activities). Kola Kole Park, 26096 W. First St. N.E., Kingston. Parade (12:15 p.m.), music festival and fireworks (10:15 p.m., Mike Wallace Park, next to Kingston Marina). FREE, donations accepted. Downtown Kingston. info@kingstontinytown.com. www.kingstontinytown.com.

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