If you want to blow up your Independence Day with fireworks you’ll find plenty of opportunities in our annual guide to the region’s July 4 activities. You’ll also find parades, vintage war planes, barbecues, dogs in red, white and blue and a lot more. It just depends on where you want to go.
LEWISTON
People can get an up-close look at antique aircraft at the Radials N’ Rivers Fly-in Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. As many as 50 planes, including many restored biplanes, will be on display at the Hillcrest Aircraft Co. site at the Lewiston-Nez Perce County Regional Airport. The display will also include World War II bombers. A number of the planes will fly in groups Tuesday afternoon while others will be available for close-up looks on the tarmac. Hours for the show are noon to 5 p.m. Monday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday and 8 a.m. to noon Wednesday. Admission is free. On Tuesday there will be a pancake breakfast from 8 to 10 a.m. for $7 a plate. From noon to 1:30 p.m. there will be free hamburgers and hot dogs. An opening ceremony is at 2 p.m. The bombers, owned by the Collings Foundation, are on a national Wings of Freedom tour. People can explore them inside and out when they’re on the ground. Thirty minute rides will be available for $400 for the B-25, and $450 for the B-17 and/or B-24. Reservations for flights can be made by calling (800) 568-8924. Hangar 180 will display some of its Golden Age aircraft, which will eventually be featured in a new museum planned for Lewiston. Free parking is available around the Hillcrest Aircraft site at the west end of the airport.
The Twin Rivers Genealogy Society will dig up history buried in Normal Hill Cemetery at the annual Walking With Ancestors tour Tuesday. Each year members of the society present new histories of several individuals buried in the cemetery. The free tours start at 9 p.m. The last tour starts at 11 a.m. People are welcome to bring chairs to sit in while taking the tour. People to be featured this year include: Perrin and Priscilla Whitman (relatives of Marcus Whitman), William L. Boise, Laura Snyder Barbor and Benjamin C. Barbor, Phoebe B. Akins and John Estes Akins, John Penn Fix, and Dr. Madison Kelly. The cemetery is at 1122 Seventh St., Lewiston.
The Old Fashioned Fourth of July Family Fun Day is 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday at Pioneer Park in Lewiston. Admission is free to the festival that features children’s games and activities, old-fashioned fire truck and stagecoach rides, food vendors, music and the Sun Festival Show & Shine. This year’s band is Whiskey Roundup. The Lewis Clark Community Band will play patriotic music at the bandshell at 4:30 p.m.
CLARKSTON
The Asotin County Family Aquatic Center is celebrating America’s birthday with half price admission Tuesday for youth, seniors and military. The reduced price is $4.50. Tuesdays the outdoor park is open from 11:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. at 1603 Dustan Loop.
The 32nd annual Community Spirit Fireworks show is Tuesday at Clarkston High School’s Adams Field. Gates open at 6. There will be live music by the Working Poor at 7 with fireworks show at 10 p.m. Admission is a suggested donation of $1 or $5 per family.
JOHNSON
The annual Johnson Fourth of July Parade starts at 10 a.m. Tuesday and features an array of zany floats. People should plan to arrive much earlier for parking and seating along the street of this small community north of Colton.
MOSCOW
Independence Day will be marked at noon Tuesday at Friendship Square with a flag ceremony followed by the Pledge of Allegiance, national anthem and a reading of the Declaration of Independence. After that, the celebration goes to the dogs at the annual Mutt Strut where the best-dressed dogs in red, white and blue will win prizes. Free popsicles will be available throughout the event.
PULLMAN
Pullman’s Fourth of July Celebration at Sunnyside Park includes live music, games, a barbecue and a fireworks display. The barbecue starts at 5 p.m. Food includes chicken and beef, burgers, hot dogs, watermelon, corn and pie, ranging in price from $6 to $3. Proceeds help pay for the annual event. There will be games for the entire family throughout the evening, inflatables for kids and live music by the Community Band of the Palouse, Dan Maher and the Fabulous Kingpins. Fireworks begin at dusk. People are asked to leave personal fireworks, alcohol and pets at home.
ENDICOTT
A dunking booth, a kids’ parade, ice cream and fireworks are all part of July 4 activities at the Endicott School Grounds. The event starts at 3 p.m. when the food booth opens and games begin, including a cake walk and dunking booth. A pie sale starts at 5, the Kiddie Parade at 6 and an Ice Cream Social with entertainment at 7. Fireworks start at dusk. The pool will be open from 2 to 8 p.m. and again after the fireworks. Admission is by donation. The school is at 308 School Drive.
OROFINO
River floats and dancing are part of Tuesday celebrations in Orofino. The annual Community Float the Clearwater lasts all day. People are invited to don a life jacket and bring a flotation device and float the river at their leisure. Festivities start at 4 p.m. at Orofino City Park where there will be a Rotary Barbecue and other food vendors. The Rock the River dance is from 6 to 9:45 p.m. and features the band Amish Rake Fighters. The free fireworks show starts at 10:10 p.m.
GRANGEVILLE
Border Days starts Saturday in Grangeville and continues through Tuesday with a slew of events for the holiday. A Kiddie’s Parade is at noon Tuesday. Kids can sign up at the Idaho County Courthouse parking lot. The Wild Roots of Country parade starts at 2 p.m. There will be street games and other activities throughout the day. Art in the Park is from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday at the Pioneer Park. Old Time Fiddlers will play from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday at the park pavilion. The Independence Day fireworks display starts at 10 p.m. at the Grangeville High School football field. Online: grangevilleborderdays.org
WINCHESTER
Fireworks will go off over Winchester Lake at dusk Saturday as a finale to the Winchester Days Celebration. The display is free but there is a $5 entry fee for cars entering the park without tags.
ELK RIVER
The annual Independence Day fireworks show Thunder in the Mountains is Saturday. The Elk River Fire Department will have a barbecue hamburger and hot dog stand set up in front of the Fire Hall on Front Street from 6 p.m. until the fireworks show starts at dusk, approximately 9:45 p.m., at the airstrip in the middle of town. Online: www.elkriveridaho.com
DONNELLY
The 29th annual Roseberry Arts and Crafts Fair, featuring artisan goods at the historic townsite of Roseberry, Idaho, will be Saturday and Sunday. The juried fair features original, handmade work. Hours are 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. Food vendors will be on site. The fair is presented by the Long Valley Preservation Society. Roseberry is about one mile east of Donnelly on East Roseberry Road at the intersection of Farm to Market Road. Online: www.historicroseberry.com
McCALL
The Fourth of July Bubble Parade kicks off Independence day 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Tuesday on Lake Street downtown here. Fireworks will be set off at dusk over Payette Lake. Alcoholic beverages will not be allowed at Ponderosa State Park or its North Beach unit on Payette Lake Saturday through Tuesday. Online: McCall Fourth of July
JOSEPH, Ore.
The sixth annual Joseph Mountain Jubilee, “Where the Mountains Meet the Music,” is Tuesday. The free festival features original regional and national bands playing Americana country and roots music at Wallowa County Park at the north end of Wallowa Lake. This year’s musicians include Joey Carper, An American Forrest, Jezebel’s Mother and Jimmy Bivens. Music starts at 3 p.m., with the last act taking the stage at 8. The Shake The Lake 4th of July Fireworks start at 9 p.m. over the lake.
