GEORGE — July 4 being a day of tradition, the nation’s birthday will be celebrated in the traditional fashion at the annual celebration in George.

Independence Day will feature the traditional parade, fireworks and patriotic speeches, but traditionally one of the biggest stars of the day is the massive cherry pie, baked in a pan that’s 8 feet by 8 feet.

The pie is the work of the Georgettes, a service organization that works on George-area projects, with the help of other volunteers around the Quincy Valley. A local market makes the dough; the Quincy School District donates a place to bake it. Georgette volunteers assemble at 7 a.m. on Independence Day to build it.

Among the traditions in George is the Cherry Bomb Fun Run, which takes off at 8:30 a.m. from West Montmorency Boulevard, George’s main street. It’s a 2-mile course.

Lineup for the annual July 4 grand parade begins at 9 a.m. in the parking lot at what was the Martha Inn, back in the day. The Martha Inn is gone but the parking lot is still there, and it’s the traditional start to the parade.

The food booths, information booths and vendors open at 9 a.m. in the park next to the George Community Hall, 403 West Montmorency Blvd. 

The Grand Parade steps off down West Montmorency Boulevard at 10 a.m. That’s followed at 11 a.m. by a presentation in the park to commemorate Independence Day.

The giant cherry pie is served at noon. There’s a suggested donation of $1 for pie and ice cream.

But before the pie is served it’s traditionally available to pose for pictures. Actually, there’s a setup to make it easier for people to snap a few pictures.

The city’s Citizens of the Year will be introduced at about 12:45 p.m. 

Entertainment will be available throughout the day on the stage, starting at about 1 p.m. The day ends with fireworks at dusk. 

Cheryl Schweizer can be reached via email at [email protected].

Independence celebrations

July 3

Red, White and Boom!

Moses Lake

McCosh Park, 401 West Fourth Ave., and other locations

Music, contests and fireworks

July 4

Othello July 4

Lions Park, 815 Pine St., and other locations

Parade, music, contests, children’s games, sports tournaments, fireworks

July 6

Suds ‘N Sun

Soap Lake 

Main Avenue East and other locations

Parade, music, children’s games, sports tournaments, fireworks

    Face painting was one of the attractions in the George Park at the 2023 George July 4 celebration.
  

    Attendees line up for a piece of cherry pie in the George Park on Independence Day 2023.
  

    A Grant County PUD employee hands out candy along the parade route in George.
  

    The 2023 July 4 parade in George featured drivers of all ages and vehicles of all sizes.
  

    Parade watchers wait on the curb at the 2023 July 4 celebration in George.
  

    Rigs of all sizes roll down the parade route at the July 4 celebration in George in 2023.