Grays Harbor offers far more than fireworks on the Fourth

Grays Harbor isn’t just about fireworks on the Fourth of July. With events taking place from Seabrook all the way around to Tokeland, visitors can find everything from from corndogs to cowboys to canoe racing.

ABERDEEN

Once again this year, Splash 2017 will be split between Morrison Riverfront Park and the Grays Harbor Historical Seaport on Tuesday.

Aberdeen’s annual Independence Day festival, with Rich Hartman’s Five Star Dealerships as lead sponsor, will begin at noon at Riverfront Park with a variety of arts and crafts vendors, entertainment and food.

At the Log Pavilion, “Son of Reptile Man” will teach visitors about various scaly critters at 12:30 p.m. “Leapin’ Louie” will perform trick roping, juggling and physical comedy at 2 p.m., followed by the comedy magic team of “Trevor & Lorena” at 3:30.

Free interactive games will include an inflatable slide, a rock wall and other features. A children’s activities area also will be on-site, as well as a beer garden featuring local concoctions from Steam Donkey Brewery and GH Wine Sellars.

At 5 p.m., the party moves across the Chehalis River to the seaport.

Music will be provided by the All In Band at 5, followed by the Marlin James Band at 7 and finally Humptulips at 9.

Visitors also can get dockside tours of the Lady Washington, which will be at her home port for the holiday. The tours close down at 8 p.m., when the tall ship will prepare to take on passengers to watch the evening’s fireworks from her deck on the river. If you’re lucky enough to get your tickets before the two-hour trip is sold out, the cost for adults is $79 plus fees. (Call 800-200-5239 for info.)

The fireworks show will begin at 10 p.m.

A few general notes for this event:

No alcohol or personal fireworks will be allowed within the festival area.

No parking is permitted along Highway 12. Vehicles will be towed.

Disabled parking will be available at the east entrance to Tractor Supply Co.

No trespassing is allowed on the bluff above Highway 12.

At the seaport, parking is first come, first served.

NORTH BEACH

Ocean Shores

With the Fourth coming after a record heat spell, fireworks regulations will be fully enforced this holiday weekend in Ocean Shores and the North Beach.

Just because it’s permitted to discharge some fireworks on selected beaches doesn’t mean you can blow up anything you’re bringing for the occasion. Ocean Shores in particular has strictly forbidden fireworks throughout the city, except on beaches north of the Marine View Drive approach boundary.

Volunteers will be handing out trash bags at the main beach approaches, with many more volunteers needed to help clean up the morning of July 5. Last year, about 20 tons of fireworks debris and other trash was collected from the Ocean Shores beaches.

The city urges everyone to dispose of garbage and used fireworks properly in garbage containers and not to leave trash on the beach.

If you are looking for professional fireworks, the Quinault Beach Resort & Casino will host a spectacular show at about 10 p.m. Tuesday, along with many private displays along the beach.

Seabrook

The Porch Illumination Celebration will be held Monday from 6 to 9 p.m. Seabrook community members and guests may stroll through each neighborhood to view the holiday decorations.

Later, at Crescent Park, they can cast their votes for the best-decorated home and share s’mores at the firepits. The winners will be announced at the flag presentation at 11 a.m. Tuesday.

Taholah

Chief Taholah Days, an annual commemoration of the 1855 Treaty, runs July 1-4 with canoe racing, various games and contests, entertainment, modern and traditional sports, a salmon bake and a traditional feast.

Official events will be held throughout the long weekend at the Taholah School, the community center, Heritage Park and the riverfront.

The weekend will culminate with fireworks Tuesday at dusk at the riverfront.

SOUTH BEACH

Westport

The festivities will begin in Westport on Friday evening with the anniversary lighting of the Grays Harbor Lighthouse. It was illuminated for the first time on June 30, 1898.

The Westport South Beach Historical Society’s Old Fashioned 4th of July celebration will be held Tuesday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on the grounds of the Westport Maritime Museum.

The U.S. Coast Guard and local military fraternities and sororities will open the event with the posting of the colors and the National Anthem at 11 a.m.

Activities will include raffles, bounce houses, children’s games for prizes, food, a plant and bake sale, vendors, a cakewalk, live music, raffle and a silent auction.

The museum will be open during the event.

Tokeland

Local band Black Shepherd will be featured at the “Let’s Blow Stuff Up” show from 6 to 10 p.m. Saturday at the Shoalwater Bay Casino.

The Fourth of July parade will begin at noon Tuesday. This year’s grand marshal is Elenore McKee, a supporter of many charitable organizations on the South Beach. She died in a house fire a few months ago, but the Westport/Grayland Chamber of Commerce decided to keep her as grand marshal, with a portrait of her on a float surrounded by flowers.

EAST COUNTY

Oakville will again this year be the destination for those who want to start their Independence Day celebrations a few days early, with a parade and other festivities this weekend.

The parade, themed “Happy Birthday America,” will start Saturday at 11 a.m.

The annual re-enactment of the last horseback robbery in Washington state will take place at the Oakville Regional Event Center after the parade Saturday. A free shuttle service will be offered from the parade grounds to the event center.

After the parade, visitors can walk the streets of Oakville and enjoy the numerous activities and vendors that will accompany this year’s festivities. Vendors selling food, clothing and plants will be on hand until 5 p.m. Pony rides and a petting zoo will be available for children, and there will be food and music. A beer garden also will be open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Additional rodeo entertainment will take place Sunday at the event center.

The event is sponsored by the Oakville Chamber of Commerce.

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GENERAL RULES AND SAFETY

Statewide

RCW 70.77.395 states fireworks may be discharged on the following dates and times unless the local jurisdiction has a different restriction:

• 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. from June 29 through July 3

• 9 a.m. to midnight on July 4

• 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. on July 5

Grays Harbor County

• If discharging fireworks along the beaches, remember to be 100-plus feet away from the dunes, move closer to the water and always point toward the ocean to prevent sparks from landing in the dry dune areas.

• Use extreme caution when discharging fireworks around other people, pets and children.

• Do not drink adult beverages and discharge fireworks. Countless injuries occur each year linking alcohol consumption and discharging fireworks.

• Designate a driver to transport everyone home safely from your holiday activities.

• Be courteous and remove your debris when you leave the beach. Soak all fireworks debris in water and dispose of it properly. Do not put fireworks debris in your car or in trash receptacles unless it has been thoroughly soaked in water.

• Japanese lanterns (paper, floating or Chinese lanterns) are prohibited.

Safety tips:

• Never allow young children to play with or ignite fireworks.

• Avoid buying fireworks that are packaged in brown paper because this is often a sign that the fireworks were made for professional displays and that they could pose a danger to consumers.

• Always have an adult supervise fireworks activities. Parents don’t realize that young children suffer injuries from sparklers. Sparklers burn at temperatures of about 2,000 degrees — hot enough to melt some metals.

• Never place any part of your body directly over a fireworks device when lighting the fuse. Back up to a safe distance immediately after lighting fireworks.

• Never try to relight or pick up fireworks that have not ignited fully.

• Never point or throw fireworks at another person.

• Keep a bucket of water or a garden hose handy in case of fire.

• Light fireworks one at a time, then move back quickly.

• Never carry fireworks in a pocket or shoot them off in metal or glass containers.

• After fireworks complete their burning, douse the spent device with plenty of water from a bucket or hose before discarding it to prevent a trash fire.

• Make sure fireworks are legal in your area before buying or using them.