Celebrate America's Independence Day on Thursday, July 4.
Whether you prefer a big blowout with spectacular fireworks and thousands of your new closest friends, or a small, closer-to-home gathering, here's what we know about events in communities all around the Puget Sound area.
Whatever you do, wherever you go, please drive safely, handle fireworks safely and keep a very close eye on kids and pets.
Enjoy the holiday!
Seattle
Witness more than 500 citizenship applicants from around the world being sworn in as new U.S. citizens in this popular and patriotic annual event; 11 a.m. concert, noon to 1 p.m. ceremony. FREE. Seattle Center’s Fisher Pavilion, Lower Queen Anne.
Seattle Cancer Care Alliance Seafair Summer Fourth
Food, games, entertainment and more. Fireworks (10:20 pm) choreographed to music. No alcohol, drugs, weapons, barbecues, pets, tent stakes or glass bottles. FREE, reserved seating available for purchase. Noon to 11 p.m. at Gas Works Park, Wallingford.
Close by
Grand Old Fourth of July, Bainbridge Island
Pancake breakfast (7 to 11 a.m.), fun run (9 a.m., $$) all-day street fair, parade (1 p.m.), classic car show, historical baseball game, music, food, entertainment and more. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Fireworks over Eagle Harbor at dusk. FREE. Downtown Winslow, Bainbridge Island.
Burien Annual Independence Day Parade
In its 98th year, this local parade is one of the oldest and most well-attended in King County. Marching bands, floats, Seafair pirates and more! 3 p.m. FREE. Downtown Burien.
Fireworks show over Lake Washington, Kenmore
Bring a blanket or chair. Music, inflatables, yard games, and food vendors at 7:30 pm, fireworks at 10 pm. FREE. Log Boom Park, Kenmore.
Fabulous Fourth of July, Renton
Volleyball tournament (9 a.m. to 6 p.m.), kids’ activities (11 a.m. to 4 p.m.), live entertainment (noon to 9:30 pm), and fireworks (10 p.m.). No pets, enclosed tents, alcohol, drones or personal fireworks. Park opens 7 a.m. Gene Coulon Memorial Beach Park, Renton. See online for parking information. FREE.
Family Fourth of July, SeaTac
Kids’ activities and splash park (11 a.m. to 8 p.m., $5), live music (1 to 10 p.m.) and fireworks (10 p.m.). No pets, enclosed tents, alcohol, weapons, smoking, or personal fireworks. FREE. Angle Lake Park, SeaTac. See online for parking/transit information.
Eastside
Sammamish Fourth on the Plateau, Sammamish
Music, food trucks, kids activities (including free inflatables), outdoor yard games, and fireworks; 6 to 10:30 p.m. (fireworks at 10 p.m.) FREE. Sammamish Commons Plaza at City Hall, Sammamish.
Newcastle Fourth of July Celebration
Gates open 6 p.m. with food trucks, live music (8 p.m.) and fireworks (10 p.m.). The crew from Alpha Pyrotechnics will answer fireworks questions during a 7 p.m. behind-the-scenes presentation on the Lake Boren Park stage prior to the show. FREE. Lake Boren Park, Newcastle.
It’s Kirkland’s 20th anniversary! Children's parade (11:30 am) followed by Lee Johnson Hometown Parade (noon), food, live music (5 pm) and fireworks (10:15 pm). No pets or alcohol. Marina Park and downtown Kirkland.
The Great Carnation Fourth of July Celebration
Celebrate America’s birthday with a 5K run/walk (8:30 a.m.), kiddie parade (10:30 am) followed by grand parade (11 am), pancake breakfast, inflatables, entertainment, food, arts and crafts, 3-on-3 basketball (1 pm), and fireworks (10 pm). FREE. KC Tolt-McDonald Park and downtown Carnation.
This is the Eastside’s largest Independence Day celebration, with live music, food, Family Fun Zone (2 to 8:30 pm, interactive games, roving entertainers, mascots, inflatables and more), live entertainment (3:30 to 9:30 pm) and fireworks (10:05 pm) synchronized to music from Bellevue Youth Symphony Orchestra. FREE, small fee for some kids’ activities. No pets. Bellevue Downtown Park, Bellevue.
Four on the Fourth 4K Run/Walk, Bellevue
Leashed dogs and their owners are welcome to run or walk this 4K event. 7:30 am check-in, 9 am run/walk, followed by doggie costume contest, inflatables for the kids, MaxMobile and a fire truck. Patriotic dress for all is encouraged. Free ages 12 and younger, benefits Seattle Humane Society in Bellevue. Ashwood Park, Bellevue.
North Sound
Old-Fashioned Fourth of July, Oak Harbor
Pancake breakfast (7:30 am to 10 am, First United Methodist Church), street fair (10 am to 9 pm), carnival, parade (11 am, Bayshore Drive), music, food, games, fireworks (10:30 pm). FREE. Windjammer Park, Oak Harbor.
Colors of Freedom, Everett
Parade (11 am, Colby and Wetmore Avenues, between 26th and Wall Streets) and festival at Legion Park Bluff, 1 to 11 pm) with kids’ activities, food, music and fireworks. FREE.
Yankee Doodle Dash, Everett
Do the Doodle! 5K, 10K, 1-mile or kids’ dash (8 am). Kids’ dash free. $15-$35. Everett Family YMCA.
5K fun run (10 am, $$$), children’s parade (11:30 am), main parade (noon), firefighters waterball competition (2:30 pm), food, entertainment (6 pm) and fireworks (10 pm). Don’t miss the Beard and Mustache contest before the fireworks (9:15 pm)! FREE. Downtown Edmonds.
Freedom Festival, Bothell
Pancake breakfast (8:30 to 10:30 am, Downtown Fire Station), children's parade (11:15 am) and grand parade (noon). Food truck festival at the Northshore Senior Center, 12 pm to 4 pm. FREE. Downtown Bothell.
Heading south
This is Washington state’s largest 4th of July event, and features four stages of live music, a car show, air show, exhibitions with more than 200 arts and crafts vendors, kids zone and fireworks. 10 am to 10:30 pm. Ruston Way Waterfront, Tacoma.
Artesian Family Festival & Thunder Valley Fireworks Show, Tumwater
Music, food, kids’ activities, games, beginning at 6 pm, and of course, fireworks (10:15 pm). FREE, $10 parking. No pets, alcohol or personal fireworks. Tumwater Valley Golf Course, Tumwater.
Maple Valley Independence Day Celebration and Fireworks Show
Music, food, games, crafts and contests 4 pm, fireworks at 10 pm. The annual Pie Baking Contest applications are now available. Break out those family recipes and enter your best fruit pie! FREE. Lake Wilderness Park, Maple Valley.
Entertainment (noon to 11 pm), inflatables, food and games (noon to 5 pm), and fireworks at 10 pm. Also, a good old-fashioned pie-eating contest! FREE. Lake Meridian Park, Kent. Free shuttles from Kentwood High School, Mattson Middle School, and Kent Fire Station #75.
Red, White & Blues Festival, Federal Way
Music and entertainment, family games and art activities starting at 4:30 pm, and fireworks (10 pm) Bring blankets and chairs. Limited parking. No pets, barbecues, tents or canopies. FREE. Celebration Park, Federal Way.
Food vendors, kids carnival, beer and wine garden, and music begin at noon, with fireworks over the historic Des Moines waterfront at 10:20 pm Bring a picnic, blanket or lawn chairs. No alcohol, bicycles/skateboards, personal fireworks, smoking, barbecues or pets. FREE, donations welcomed. Des Moines Beach Park, Des Moines.
Fourth of July Festival, Auburn
Kids’ bike parade (noon), live entertainment, inflatables, pony rides, petting zoo, crafts, games, food, car show, climbing wall, spray park and more. Leashed pets welcome. 11 am to 4 pm FREE, $5 wristband for unlimited activities. Les Gove Park, Auburn
Lacey Fireworks Spectacular & Freedom Concert
NOTE: Lacey celebrates on Wednesday, July 3! Festivities include food booths, live entertainment, inflatables, an obstacle course and fireworks (10 pm). New this year, Enjoy the fireworks in 3D! Pick up your free 3D glasses at Lacey Collision (1215 Carpenter Rd SE, Lacey) or Capital Collision (2111 Carriage Dr SW, Olympia) now or at the event at the Lacey Collision bus or the Information booth, while supplies last! 4 to 11 pm. Rainier Vista Park, Lacey.
