Whidbey’s Independence Day celebrations will offer thrilling rides, flavors for all palates, cheerful sounds and, depending on where you live, an explosive or futuristic grand finale.
After a long pause on the Freeland 3rd of July fireworks show due to the pandemic, this beloved event is set to make a return. After over 20 years under the South Whidbey Assembly of God, the event will be led for the first time by the Freeland Chamber of Commerce.
Starting at 5 p.m. on July 3 at Freeland Park, the Freeland Chamber invites families to the Freedom Fest and Fireworks event, where they can enjoy live music, food, face painting, bouncy houses and, of course, a fireworks show that starts at 10 p.m.
Oak Harbor kicks off the festivity with the Carnival, which can be enjoyed from Friday, June 28 to Sunday, July 7 at the corner of Bayshore and Midway, where families can enjoy rides and take photos on a 12-foot-long Teenie Two airplane from the Pacific Northwest Naval Air Museum. The cost of one ticket is $35 and $150 for a mega pass.
Oak Harbor’s Independence Day Parade is scheduled for 11 a.m. on July 4, and will start at the intersection of South East Pasek Street and South East Pioneer Way, continuing through Pioneer Way ending in front of Ace Hardware on South East Pioneer.
The parade will feature the Oak Harbor High School Color Guard, NAS Whidbey Island’s Sailors of the Year, horses, martial arts, dancing, the cast of Seussical, and a 21-foot-replica of the USS Nimitz (CVN-68) from the Pacific Northwest Naval Air Museum, among other participants.
Independence Day will culminate with a fireworks show at 10 p.m. at Windjammer Park.
From July 4 to July 6, residents can walk on South East Bayshore Drive and enjoy street food, games, arts and crafts booths, inflatables and more. The fair starts at 10 a.m. Thursday and Saturday and at 1 p.m. on Friday, ending at 7 p.m.
Live entertainment will feature the cast of Seussical from the Whidbey Playhouse, Oak Harbor Cheer, Whidbey Royalty, Good Vibes, Ryan Prichard and more. The shows take place 2-9 p.m. Thursday and 1-7 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
The Beer garden, located in front of Alfy’s on Bayshore, will be open 2-9 p.m. Thursday and 1-7 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.
At 10 p.m. on July 4, the Blue Fox Drive-In will host a fireworks show, followed by a showing of “Despicable Me 4” and another movie to be announced. Tickets cost $15. To reserve a spot, visit bluefoxdrivein.com.
The 107th Maxwelton 4th of July Parade will start at noon on Independence Day, led by an honor guard. Visitors can park at Dave Mackie Park or Cascadia Meadows, and take a free shuttle that runs from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m..
This year’s grand marshal is Cammy Green, who along with her late husband Doug has been an active member of the Maxwelton Valley.
The parade is followed by a flag raising ceremony, the National Anthem, an egg toss, sack races and other field games. Visitors can also purchase t-shirts and street food. For more information about the event, visit maxwelton.org.
At about 9:45 p.m. on Saturday, July 6 on Cascade Avenue in downtown, the Langley Chamber of Commerce will host “Langley Lights the Night,” an event that features the city’s first animated drone light show.
Starting at 6 p.m., community members can enjoy live music from the Whidbey Island Sound Machine, Kick-Brass, the Shifty Sailors, Janie Cribbs and T.Rust Band. Family activities will include face painting, a STEM crafts table for kids, games and robot demos by the North Whidbey Island Robotics club, and a tribal arts display.
Back in Oak Harbor, the second annual Whidbey Wags Pet Parade is open to dogs and cats, who will strut in patriotic fashion starting at 10:30 a.m. on July 6 at Flintstone Park. The most creative costumes will win trophies.
Registration starts at 9:30 a.m. at Flintstone Park, where participants can receive a parade number, a gift, a goodie bag and pose for photos. To enter, participants are asked to pay $20 or to bring a can of dog or cat food that will be donated to WAIF and the 4-H Club.
Families can then meet again at the park for the Pet Fair, which will feature pools, giveaways, games, photo opportunities and more.
Not too far from the furry fashion show, the Rotary Club will host the Windjammer Car Show from noon to 4 p.m. at the Windjammer Park parking lot. Prospective participants can register their cars for $25 the day of the event at 10 a.m. Top contestants will win a trophy.
If you’re more of a “do it yourself” kind of person, then you might want to check out local fireworks stands.
The Rotary Club is selling fireworks from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. July 28 to July 4 at the Rite Aid parking lot in Oak Harbor. Proceeds will support the club’s Food4Kids Backpacks program, where club members deliver bags of easy-to-prepare food to over 220 elementary students every week during the school year. Proceeds will also fund $3,000 scholarships that are given to seven students every year.
The Knights of Columbus of Oak Harbor are selling fireworks at the Discount Fireworks booth located at 33505 Highway 20 in Oak Harbor, right next to the Auld Holland Inn. The stand is open daily from 9 a.m. to the evening — hours might change depending on traffic — until July 4. Proceeds will support scholarships and the purchase of free coats and meals for children in need.
Whidbey Grace church in Oak Harbor and Living Hope church in Coupeville are partnering with Young Life and Shock N’ Awe Fireworks to raise funds for youths. The stand is open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. until July 4, though Pastor Josh Dunahoo cautioned they might close sooner if they run out on July 4, and it’s located at 29470 Highway 20 in Oak Harbor.
Freedom Entertainment Fireworks, a family-owned business, sells fireworks from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. July 1-4, and is located at 39753 Highway 20 in Oak Harbor.
Big Dog Fireworks is open from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. until July 4, and is located at 1715 East Main Street Freeland and at 11196 Highway 525 in Clinton.
