Fireworks, parade, concert on July 4

Stay around town for the holiday weekend and then bring your lawn chair to First Street Sunday, July 4. La Conner’s July 4th parade is back.

There will not be a community picnic nor a concert with beer garden at the La Conner Marina lawn that afternoon, however. They are nixed by coronavirus public health precautions. But wherever you eat and hang out Sunday afternoon, go to Gilkey Square for a 2:30 p.m. concert by the C.C. Adams Band. And, eat again and secure your place on the boardwalk for fireworks after 9:30 p.m., once it is dark enough.

Join the John Deere Tractor Club and other favorites in the once again annual parade, starting at 12 p.m. Forms are on the Town’s website, or call them if the form is not yet available. As always, parade participants can sign up at the Center and Second Streets’ staging area parade morning. For parade information, call the Town: 360-466-3125.

Scott Thomas, town administrator, is coordinating July 4 activities, though it is a group effort, he said, “like everything else in La Conner.” Thus, he credits Councilmember John Leaver for bringing the band to town.

Thomas is expecting a large parade, both in number of entries and the size of the audience. He noted that at least a couple of other communities are not having parades, making La Conner a magnet for everyone who loves a parade. And with this being the first general public outdoor event since March 2020, he expects everyone that loves a parade to come to La Conner.

Mayor Ramon Hayes is also looking forward to the day’s festivities. “I think it is exciting that we can dabble with reopening in certain areas,” he said. “As long as people continue to be mindful, we can probably have a pretty good time. I am excited to see this as a small first step in the reopening.”

La Conner’s fireworks will be staged from the westside of the Swinomish Channel and might last 15 minutes, as in past years. It is likely that Swinomish tribal members with excess inventory from their fireworks stands will start earlier and go well into the night. Thomas observed, “They put on a pretty good display of their own. It just kind of adds to the event. It is always kind of cool.”

Thomas also plugged caution around all kinds of fires. “I just encourage everyone to be safe, not just in terms of COVID-19 but everything else that can happen on the holiday. You don’t want it to be ruined by accidents,” he said, noting that the fire department promotes everyone be cautious and observe all requirements where people are.

He also put in a plug for the Swinomish Indian Tribal Community’s first-ever Pride Parade 5:30 p.m. June 30.

Swinomish Senator Alana Quintasket has invited La Conner to participate. “It seems like a cool way to be united,” Quintasket said, “especially in this tough year (of the COVID-19 pandemic).”