Celebrate the Fourth all weekend

By Kathy Reed • June 30, 2011 12:46 pm

Fireworks will flare over Holmes Harbor Sunday night in Freeland, as part of Celebrate America. A patriotic program will begin at 10 p.m., followed by the fireworks. File photo courtesy of the South Whidbey Record

If you’re looking for something to do this Fourth of July weekend, you’ll have no shortage of options. Here’s a quick run-down of activities:

Friday through Monday

• The annual Fourth of July carnival will open each day at 11 a.m. in downtown Oak Harbor, and will run all day through July 4. Call the Oak Harbor Chamber of Commerce for information at 675-3755.

Saturday

• There will be a strawberry social from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at the Coupeville United Methodist Church. There will be homemade waffles, shortcakes and ice cream sundaes topped with local strawberries and whipped cream.

“They’ve been having it for 130 years,” said Beth Kelly at the Coupeville United Methodist Church. “The money they make goes to missionaries in the Congo and Nepal.”

About 400 hundred people attended the event last year. Cost is $7 per ticket. Takeout orders will be available.

• Garage sale lovers will enjoy the Coupeville Lions 30th annual garage sale this weekend at the Coupeville Elementary School on South Main Street, just off Highway 20.

Al Sherman recalled he and Spence Purvis were trying to get rid of some stuff for the high school, like extra lockers, and they decided to sell them. Other people added their belongings to the school’s stuff and the first Coupeville Lions Club Garage Sale was born.

Sale hours Saturday are from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. The sale features tools, auto equipment, good used furniture, sporting goods, books, games, children’s toys, electronics and appliances, exercise equipment, collectables and more. Go to www.coupevillelions.org/GarageSale.htm for information.

Sunday

• Celebrate America is an annual event put on by the staff and congregation of South Whidbey Assembly of God Church every July 3rd at Freeland Park. Organizers say it’s designed to be fun for the whole family and features free admission, free parking and free entertainment.

Celebrate America in Freeland on Sunday will have all kinds of games and activities for children. File photo courtesy of The South Whidbey Record

“Our church originated the festival 17 years ago,” said Pastor Matt Chambers. “There was no public fireworks display on South Whidbey and we thought it would be good for the community.”

The event was successful from the beginning and now there are activities for the whole family.

The afternoon typically starts around 2 p.m., with inflatables and activities for children. There are also food vendors and a free shuttle service from Freeland’s Park ‘n Ride lot at Trinity Lutheran Church and in front of the Payless Food store.

Entertainment begins at 6 p.m. and will feature the local pop-rock-alternative band, For the Birds; the prop comic Alex Zerbe; and the marimba band Ruzivo. There will also be a flyover by The Blackjacks, a public flying club.

The patriotic program, with vocalist Marissa Rice, is called ‘Remember 9/11’ will begin at 10 p.m. Fireworks will be set off over Holmes Harbor at dark.

Monday

• Start your Indpendence Day with a pancake breakfast put on by the North Whidbey Firefighters’ Association. Breakfast will be served from 7 to 11 a.m. at the Taylor Road Fire Station. Cost is $5.50 for adults, children ages 6 to 12 are $3.50 and children under 6 are free. The station is located at 3440 Taylor Rd.

• Make a day of it Monday in Oak Harbor with the chamber’s Old Fashioned Fourth OH July. In addition to the carnival, there will be a vendor marketplace from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and of course the grand parade, which begins at 11 a.m. Due to construction, the parade route will be slightly different this year.

“The parade will start by the marina and go down Pioneer Way, onto Bayshore Drive and back to Pioneer Way,” said Elise Vogelman, the coordinator of this year’s event.

Vogelman said there are typically between 80 and 100 entries in the parade, which is being sponsored this year by Island Drug. The grand marshal is Karl Krieg of Krieg Concrete Products, Inc.

After the parade, organizers urge everyone to stick around and pick their spot to watch the fireworks at dusk at Windjammer Park.

“It’s always a blast,” said Vogelman. “There are fun family games, it’s a great time to get out and show your patriotism and enjoy the fireworks. It’s just a fun day all around.”

— Reporter Dennis Connolly contributed to this story.