If you’ve not nailed down your plans for Fourth of July (or even if you have) we’ve compiled a long list of fun events in celebration of the holiday. This year’s list includes some old favorites, and also a new twist on how to enjoy light shows without fireworks. Tigard, for the first time ever, will offer a drone light show with no fireworks on Fourth of July. Early risers, dogs, and veterans salute you Tigard.
This list includes events around the state of Oregon as well as a few in southwest Washington. Pack up your hot dogs, apple pie and head out!
All events are free unless otherwise noted.
Oaks Park: The annual Fourth of July Spectacular event offers thrill rides, picnicking, midway fun, and more including an end of the evening big fireworks display. Tickets are required in advance and are sold online only. Admission includes unlimited rides. Noon-midnight Thursday, Oaks Park, 7805 S.E Oaks Park Way; $38 for ages 3 and older. Tickets are only available in advance at the website and often sell out; oaksamusementpark.
Waterfront Blues Festival: This four-day music festival kicks off with a fireworks show Thursday night over the Willamette River. Various free viewing locations are available on both sides of the river. This year’s headliner is Ben Harper. Read more about that here: oregonlive.com/entertainment. Gates open daily at 11 a.m. Thursday-Sunday, July 4-7, Waterfront Park south end, single day tickets start at $45; ages 12 and younger free; waterfrontbluesfest.com.
Ridgefield: The celebration includes a street parade (on Fourth Avenue and Division Street), pie-eating contest, outdoor entertainment, fun run, and arts and crafts vendors. 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Thursday, at various venues in Ridgefield; ridgefield4th.com.
Vancouver: The city’s large fireworks display has been dark for a several years now. But in its place, the Fort Vancouver Historic Trust and its partners celebrate Fourth of July with a community event “Summerfest,” that includes a day of live music, games on the lawn, military vehicle displays and rides, and a beer garden for those 21 and older. 11 a.m-6 p.m. Saturday, July 6, Fort Vancouver; thehistorictrust.org/calendar/summer-fest.
Beaverton: The Oak Hills neighborhood offers a community parade around noon that kicks off from the elementary school on Forest Avenue. There’s also a morning fun run, and kids bike parade. Afterward, enjoy hot dogs and shaved ice along with live music. Food and microbrew trucks start serving at 6:30 p.m. in the green space. Fireworks at 10 p.m. Thursday, Oak Hills Recreation Center, 2400 N.W. 153rd Ave., Beaverton; $5 admission; oakhillsoregon.com/4thofjuly.
Happy Valley: This day-long festival begins in the morning with a hike hosted by the Happy Valley Hikers, followed by a community parade. Happy Valley Park will offer live music, various inflatable structures, carnival games, a variety of food and business vendors, and a beer garden. Fireworks at dusk. Noon-10 p.m. Thursday, Happy Valley Park, 13770 S.E. Ridgecrest Road; happyvalleyor.gov/services/hv-community-events.
Hillsboro: Hillsboro Rotary hosts its annual parade with support from the City of Hillsboro. 10 a.m. Thursday, through downtown Hillsboro. Visit the website for a map of the parade route; hillsboro-oregon.gov.
Lake Oswego: The Lions Club’s annual Pancake Breakfast celebrates 75 years this summer in George Rogers Park, 611 S. State St., 8-11 a.m. Thursday (or until food runs out); $7-$10; e-clubhouse.org/sites/lakeoswegoor. Then, head over to the street parade staging area in Millennium Plaza at 10 a.m. Thursday, celebration continues until 1 p.m. with festive floats, musical entertainment, food vendors, face painting, and more. Details: ci.oswego.or.us/parksrec.
Tigard: The Old Fashioned Fourth at the Tigard High School football field offers kids’ games, food vendors, live music, and, for the first time this year, a drone sky show with patriotic and Tigard-themed animations instead of fireworks. 9:30 p.m. Thursday. Gates open at 6 p.m. at the school, 9000 S.W. Durham Road, Tigard; .tigard-or.gov.
Oregon City: A new celebration comes to Oregon City this year with a concert in the park followed by an address from the mayor and then a laser light show at dusk. There will also be food carts and a beer garden. 6:30 p.m. Thursday, End of the Oregon Trail Interpretive Center, 1726 Washington St., Oregon City; free ($5 to park on the grounds); www.orcity.org/concertsinthepark.
The Dalles: The Fort Dalles event includes a community breakfast, fun run, hometown parade (10 a.m.) live music beginning at noon in downtown, cornhole tournament, and fireworks show at 10 p.m. Thursday; fireworksinthedalles.com.
Hood River: Park your vehicle and watch the show from the Hood River Events Site or in one of several parks near the venue. Fireworks shoot off about 10 p.m. Thursday, Portway Avenue; hoodriverfireworks.com/4th-of-july.
Salem: This is the second year for this Independence Day celebration that includes a fireworks show at night, and live music during the day. There’s also carnival rides and food vendors. Admission is free - parking is $10. 3-11 p.m. Thursday, Oregon State Fairgrounds, 2330 17th St. N.E. Salem, oregonstateexpo.org/calendar.
Canby: The streets of downtown Canby will be filled with vendors, arts and crafts, and information booths from local nonprofit organizations beginning at 9:30 a.m. There’s a street parade, a car show, and children’s activities in Wait Park, 350 N. Grand St. Fireworks at dusk at Trost Elementary, 800 S. Redwood St., canbyoregon.gov/events.
Creswell: The Independence Day party includes a parade that moves through downtown Creswell. Vendors, food and live music all day, and traditional fireworks show at dusk. Beginning at 7 a.m. Thursday , Holt Park, 100 Harvey Road, N. Creswell; business.creswellchamber.com.
Eugene: Pro rodeo events include bronc riding, steer wrestling and bull riding. Various times Wednesday-Saturday, July 3-6 , Oregon Horse Center, 90751 Prairie Road, Eugene; tickets start at $25 general admission; eugeneprorodeo.com.
Mount Angel: Sure, it’s best known for the annual Oktoberfest in the fall, but each year the small Marion County town hosts an Independence Day street parade, followed by live entertainment on the athletic fields of JFK High School, 890 E. Marquam St. Fireworks start about 10 p.m. Parade starts at 11 a.m. Thursday, through Mount Angel; mtangelchamber.com/events-festivals.
Molalla Buckeroo: The long-standing Willamette Valley rodeo will be held during the week this year, bringing rodeo thrills Monday-Thursday with fireworks after evening shows. Various times Monday-Thursday, July 1-4, Molalla Buckeroo Grounds, 815 Shirley St, Molalla; tickets start at $10; molallabuckeroo.com.
St. Paul Rodeo: All the traditional events are held during the annual St. Paul Rodeo including steer roping, bareback and bull riding, barrel racing, and more. This annual event also features a midway with rides, amazing barbecue, and fireworks shows after evening performances. Events are held at various times Tuesday-Saturday, July 2-6, Rodeo arena at Main Street and Park Avenue N.E., St. Paul; tickets start at $20; stpaulrodeo.com/p/about/rodeo.
Silverton: If just one night of fireworks isn’t enough for you, join The Oregon Garden in its celebration July 3 that includes live music, food vendors, and activities for kids. Also enjoy the Art in the Garden walk, and fireworks at dusk. 5 p.m. Wednesday, July 3, Oregon Garden, admission $5-$10; 879 W. Main St.; oregongarden.org/event/july-3rd.
Springfield: Springfield Utility Board presents its annual “Light of Liberty Celebration” that features a concert by the R&B super group, The Spinners. Also enjoy food vendors, activities for kids and a 10 p.m. fireworks show. Gate opens at 4 p.m. Thursday, Island Park, 200 W. “B” St., $10 at gate, discounts available online; subutil.com/about-us.
Haines: The annual Haines Stampede features two days of rodeo competition as well a cowboy breakfast, vendors, a street parade through downtown Haines, and fireworks at dusk on Thursday. Rodeo Wednesday-Thursday, July 3-4; this year’s admission prices have not been released. hainesstampede.com.
Hermiston: Head to Butte Park for a day of games, bounce houses, food vendors, arts and crafts, live music, and then fireworks show at dusk. 3-10:30 p.m. Thursday, Butte Park, 1245 N.W. Seventh St.; hermiston.or.us.
Pendleton: The parade starts at 10 a.m. Thursday in downtown stepping off from City Hall. Then head to Roy Raley Park, 1205 S.W. Court Ave., for children’s games, bike/scooter parade, races, and other activities through 5 p.m. Thursday; facebook.com/photo.
Ashland: “Go 4th for Kids” is the theme for the Fourth of July Parade. Parade starts at 10 a.m. Thursday, through downtown Ashland. Then head to Litha Park for vendor booths, live music, family activities, a jet flyover, and other attractions; parade at 10 a.m., other events until 7:30 p.m. Thursday; ashlandchamber.com.
Central Point: BoomFest is an apt name for Central Point’s annual fireworks show, billed as the largest in the area. Fireworks are presented at dusk, at the Jackson County Expo Center, 1 Peninger Road, attheexpo.com/boomfest.
Bend: It’s been a community tradition since 1924 to celebrate pets with a parade through downtown on the Fourth of July. Expect floats, costumes, bikes and trikes, and lots of fun for kids and pets alike. 10 a.m. Thursday, staging at Harmon Park, 1100 N.W. Harmon Blvd., finishing at Drake Park; bendparksandrec.org/activities/4th-of-july.
Redmond: Redmond Chamber of Commerce hosts a red, white and blue “Salute to Service” parade through downtown Redmond at 10 a.m. Thursday, downtown Redmond; details: visitredmondoregon.com/event/4th-of-july.
Astoria/Warrenton: The holiday weekend will be busy on the northern Oregon coast. On July 3 the North Coast Symphonic Band plays a free concert of patriotic music 7 p.m. Wednesday, at the Liberty Theater. The Fourth of July promises a parade, car show, barbecue and more in downtown Warrenton beginning at 3 p.m. The evening ends with fireworks at 10 p.m. Thursday over the Columbia River in Astoria. See oldoregon.com/4thofjuly for details.
Lincoln City: The skies above Siletz Bay come alive with vivid colors and sparkling lights during the annual fireworks show. Also enjoy live music and food vendors in the Taft District. Events noon-11 p.m. Thursday, access at Southwest 51st Street, Lincoln City; explorelincolncity.com/events/4th-of-july.
Seaside: The chamber of commerce estimates this is one of the largest fireworks shows on the West Coast. Fireworks over the ocean about 10 p.m.; seasideor.com/event/4th-of-july.
Yachats: Start your day off with a fun run, then stick around for the La De Da Parade, full of whimsical people-powered fun beginning at noon. Fireworks are launched over the mouth of the Yachats River about 10 p.m. Thursday; yachats.org/events/la-de-da-parade.
Newport: The Lincoln County Fair and Old Fashioned Fourth of July celebration offers free admission to fair events, except for rodeo performances, over the holiday weekend. Rodeo performances 6 p.m. Friday-Saturday, tickets required. Also enjoy free live music, 4-H exhibits, and family entertainment. Various hours Thursday-Saturday, July 4-6, at Lincoln County Commons, 633 N.E. Third St., Newport, thelincolncountyfair.com.
- If you have live or virtual events you’d like to see highlighted at OregonLive.com or in the weekly printed A&E section of The Oregonian, please email submissions to events@oregonian.com at least three weeks prior to the start of your event. Digital images or links to videos are helpful.
— Rosemarie Stein
503-221-4376, events@oregonian.com; @trafficportland
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