Basin prepped for July 4
CHERYL SCHWEIZER | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 1 year, 7 months AGO
Fireworks sparkle over Moses Lake during the 2022 Independence Day celebration. Moses Lake celebrates the nation’s birthday with “Red, White and Boom!” July 1.
FILE PHOTO
Hats that were both red, white and blue and a little crazy filled Othello’s Main Street at the 2022 July 4 parade.
Children scoop up candy during the 2022 Fourth of July at George parade.
A parade participant gets ready to throw an ice pop during the Othello July 4 parade in 2022.
The crowd gathers in McCosh Park for the 2022 Independence Day concert.
A fire truck waters the road - and sometimes the crowd - during the July 4 parade in George in 2022.
Senior Reporter Cheryl Schweizer is a journalist with more than 30 years of experience serving small communities in the Pacific Northwest. She began her post-high-school education at Treasure Valley Community College and enerned her journalism degree at Oregon State University. After working for multiple publications, she has settled down at the Columbia Basin Herald and has been a staple of the newsroom for more than a decade. Schweizer’s dedication to her communities and profession has earned her the nickname “The Baroness of Bylines.” She covers a variety of beats including health, business and various municipalities. | June 19, 2023 1:30 AM
COLUMBIA BASIN — The nation’s birthday will be celebrated with parades, tournaments, flash and plenty of sparkles, with three local communities sponsoring festivities and fireworks.
Moses Lake leads off with “Red, White and Boom!” July 1.
The Moses Lake Farmers Market is open from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. every Saturday during the summer and July 1 is no exception; it’s in McCosh Park, which also hosts a scavenger hunt from noon to 2 p.m. Festivities move to West Third Avenue from 2 to 5 p.m. with games and an open mike at Sinkiuse Square. Bilingual Storytime is scheduled for 3 to 3:30 p.m. and 4 to 4:40 p.m. at the Obra Project building, 205 S. Division St. Sinkiuse Square also will host a street taco contest, with judging from 4 to 5 p.m.
The action then moves back to McCosh Park at 5 p.m. for games and activities with the help of the mobile recreation program operated by Moses Lake Parks and Recreation. There’s an open beanbag toss game as well, and food vendors will set up in the park through 10 p.m.
“Stone In Love,” a tribute to the legendary 1980s rock band Journey, will perform in concert from 8:30 to 10 p.m. The concert is free. The fireworks, scheduled for about 10 p.m., finish off the day.
Othello’s July 4 celebration will be on Independence Day and is still a work in progress, but some events have been announced.
Runners and walkers start early at 7 a.m. at the Let Freedom Run race. People can register online or at the Othello Chamber of Commerce office, 705 E. Hemlock St., download the registration form or register online. The annual July 4 parade starts down Main Street at 10 a.m.; traditionally it’s full of fire trucks, horses, cars and children. The entry form is available on the Chamber’s social media.
Activities shift to the park where, among other events, a coed volleyball tournament is scheduled. Teams can find registration information on Chamber social media. Music also is scheduled for the park, as wella as food vendors. The fireworks will wrap up the festivities at dusk.
The town of George will be celebrating more than 65 years at its July 4 celebration on Independence Day, including the signature attraction, a cherry pie that the town claims is the biggest in the world.
There will be plenty to do before the pie and ice cream, including the annual Cherry Bomb Run at 8:30 a.m., and vendors serving breakfast in the George Community Park all morning. Food and market vendors will be in the park throughout the day.
The July 4 parade rolls through town at 10 a.m. A ceremony to remember the day’s purpose is scheduled for 11 a.m. in the park.
The Georgettes community group start working on the pie at about 7 a.m., and pie is served at noon. Traditionally the pie poses for pictures - actually, there’s a setup where people can get pictures - after the parade. Live music is scheduled for the park stage throughout the afternoon. The fireworks end the day at dusk.
Cheryl Schweizer can be reached via email at cschweizer@columbiabasinherald.com.
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