Old-fashioned parade among many Fourth of July highlights

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The Fourth of July is back in Blaine with its old-fashioned car show, grand parade and spectacular fireworks. The red, white and blue celebrations will be in full swing as the parade returns for the first time in three years.

Start the day off with a full stomach. Blaine Senior Center will host its pancake breakfast 8-11 a.m. at the senior center, 763 G Street. Meals will include pancakes, scrambled eggs, sausages, orange juice, tea and coffee. Meals are $7 for adults and $5 for children under six. 

Next, take a stroll along the Car Show-N-Shine to view the vehicles at 4th and Martin streets. In the past, the car show has attracted about 250 vehicle owners who drive everything from vintage cars to lowriders, motorcycles and trucks. The car show will be open from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. and a $10 entry fee will get participants dash plaques and trophy awards. 

Blaine Library’s blowout book sale will be going all day, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., at Blaine Library, 610 3rd Street.

The street fair and kids zone will run from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. with arts, crafts, commercial vendors and pony rides, among other fun activities. 

The historic Plover passenger ferry will offer rides from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The state’s oldest foot passenger ferry will take passengers between Blaine Boating Center visitor’s dock, 235 Marine Drive, and Semiahmoo Resort wharf dock. Tickets cost $5 for adults, $1 for youth over 12 years old and free for children under 12 years old.

Live music will be playing throughout the Fourth of July celebrations, with a full line up from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. At H Street Plaza, Drayton Rock Band will kick off at 11 a.m., followed by Jimmy Wright Band (1:30 p.m.) and Leo Boots Band (3:30 p.m.) The G Street Plaza will feature Bellingham Jazz Band at 11 a.m. and Drayton Rock Band (4 p.m.). Silver City will play a noon performance at Martin Street.

The old-fashioned Fourth of July parade will be a festival show-stopper along Peace Portal Drive at noon. Anyone is allowed to join the parade including military groups, kids, businesses and bands. Registration is required.

Different downtown roads will be closed at varying times throughout the day. H Street between Peace Portal Drive and Mitchell Avenue will be closed all day, Blaine Welcome Center volunteer Carroll Solomon said. Peace Portal Drive, from the roundabout to Cherry Street, will be closed from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. “Be prepared to detour around the immediate downtown area,” she said.

Solomon encouraged event-goers to get downtown early to find parking. The last parade attracted 15,000 people, she said. 

Top off the day with a 10:15 p.m. fireworks spectacular at Blaine Marine Park. Peace Arch State Park will close at dusk and not be available for the fireworks showing. 

 To sign up in advance for the parade and car show, visit Blaine Chamber of Commerce’s website at bit.ly/3HRXgiJ.

Firework laws

In Blaine, consumer fireworks are banned west of Shintaffer Road, including Semiahmoo Spit. They are banned on public lands in Blaine such as city parks, Blaine Harbor and school areas. Fireworks are allowed from 10 a.m. to midnight on July 4 in all other parts of Blaine.

Fireworks are allowed in Birch Bay 6-11 p.m. July 3, from 6 p.m. to midnight July 4 and 6-11 p.m. July 5. Consumer fireworks sold at a state licensed and Whatcom County permitted stand are allowed in the county. Firecrackers, bottle rockets, missiles and rockets are only legal to possess and use on tribal lands. 

Birch Bay clean up

The Birch Bay Chamber of Commerce is partnering with Birch Bay Watershed and Aquatic Resources Management (BBWARM), Whatcom County Health Department and Whatcom Conservation District to host the annual July 5 beach clean up. Volunteers will meet at 9 a.m. on the berm, across from Birch Bay Beach Park at 7930 Birch Bay Drive. Garbage bags and coffee will be provided. Registration is not required. 

Doralee Booth, Birch Bay Chamber of Commerce county liaison, said 4.8 tons of Birch Bay garbage were picked up in 2021. In the past seven years, 29.8 tons, or 59,760 pounds, of Fourth of July trash was picked up, she said.

“Those who visit our community to blow up their personal fireworks need to be responsible and respectful,” Booth said. “And bag up their trash from the beach and cart it home to be deposited in their own garbage can.”

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