Traditions making a comeback for the Fourth at George
JOEL MARTIN | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 1 year AGO
The Grand Parade makes its way down, and then back up, Montmorency Boulevard at last year’s Fourth of July celebration in George.
JOEL MARTIN/COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD
The enormous cherry pie is the centerpiece of George’s Independence Day festivities.
The cherry pit spitting contest will return this year to the George Fourth of July celebration after many years’ hiatus.
The Fourth of July at George features vendors, music and lots of fun things for children.
Joel Martin has been with the Columbia Basin Herald for more than 25 years in a variety of roles and is the most-tenured employee in the building. Martin is a married father of eight and enjoys spending time with his children and his wife, Christina. He is passionate about the paper’s mission of informing the people of the Columbia Basin because he knows it is important to record the history of the communities the publication serves. | June 30, 2025 3:00 AM
GEORGE — Some traditions are returning to George’s Fourth of July celebration this year.
“We’re going to begin the day with the pancake breakfast at the George Community Hall kitchen,” said organizer Debby Kooy. “I don’t think we’ve had a pancake breakfast at the hall on the Fourth of July for about 10 years. It’s fun to see that come back, because people still ask for it every time. And we’re having the return of the cherry pit spitting contest. There might be a few other things added … but we’ll at least do the cherry pit spitting.”
The little town of George, Washington is famous for pulling out all the patriotic stops for its Fourth of July celebration. There will be a patriotic program with local lawmakers as guest speakers, a flag-raising ceremony, vendors, a parade and the world’s largest cherry pie.
The fun starts with the pancake breakfast at 7 a.m. followed by the Cherry Bomb Run. The parade will start at 10, going down one side of Montmorency Boulevard and up the other. This year’s parade has a little something extra, Kooy said: The Choppers Brass Quintet will perform in it, as well as participating in the patriotic program and playing a 45-minute set of their own on stage.
The Choppers Brass Quintet, based in Seattle, performs music from the 16th through 21st centuries, as well as original compositions, according to their website.
“That’ll be a very, very nice addition to the event,” Kooy said.
Also taking the stage will be magician Nate Jester, billed as the Ace of Illusions.
“We have had him before, a couple of years ago,” Kooy said. “He’s an excellent performer, just top drawer.”
The Rocky Ford Band, featuring members from around the Basin, will perform as well, and the Pedro Rodriguez Band will finish the musical lineup just in time for the fireworks show.
Probably the best-known part of the George Fourth of July event is the enormous cherry pie, served to all with ice cream. There’s no charge, although a $1 donation is suggested. A tradition since the town’s founding in 1957, the pie measures eight feet by eight feet by eight inches, giving the town some standing to proclaim it the world’s biggest.
The Georgettes, George’s civic service club, starts the preparations early, Kooy said.
“The crust will be baked on the first of July at Quincy Middle School,” she said. “We start at 9 and we’ll have it done by noon, packaged up and ready to transport back to George.”
The fireworks display at the end of the evening will be bigger and better than previous years, Kooy said.
“This is our 68th year, and we’re still going strong,” she said.
Schedule
7 a.m. Registration for Cherry Bomb Run
7-11 a.m. Pancake breakfast at the George Community Hall kitchen
7:30 a.m. Construction of the world's largest cherry pie
8:30 a.m. Cherry Bomb Run starts
9 a.m. Parade registration and lineup at Martha Inn parking lot
Food and vendor booths open
10 a.m. Grand Parade
10 a.m.-3 p.m. Children’s games and contests
11 a.m. Patriotic program, followed by cherry pie
12:15-12:45 p.m. Ace of Illusions Nate Jester
12:50 p.m. Citizens of the Year introduced
1 p.m. Choppers Brass Quintet
2:30-3 p.m. Ace of Illusions Nate Jester
6-7 p.m. Rocky Ford Band
7:30-10 p.m. Pedro Rodriguez Band
10 p.m. or dusk Fireworks
The enormous cherry pie is the centerpiece of George’s Independence Day festivities.
The cherry pit spitting contest will return this year to the George Fourth of July celebration after many years’ hiatus.
The Fourth of July at George features vendors, music and lots of fun things for children.ARTICLES BY JOEL MARTIN
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