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July 4, 2011 in City
Spokane celebrates the Fourth
Kayla Woods, 5, jumps high during the Numerica Credit Union Free Children’s Area potato sack races during Riverfront Park’s Fourth of July Festival on Monday, July 4, 2011.
(Full-size photo)
The Fourth of July Festival in Riverfront Park is like a big Spokane family reunion.
It’s a little loud and sweaty featuring people of all ages and ethnicities. It’s full of ice cream, hamburgers, kettle corn and hot dogs, squealing kids and panting canines. It’s busy and somewhat chaotic, yet when the first rocket pierces the night sky and people settle to watch the annual fireworks, most will agree that they’ve once again had a pretty good time.
One big draw this year was the Blue Knights out of Denver, Colo. The marching band put on a lively show on the lawn in front of City Hall, not missing a beat in the blistering afternoon sun. About 100 people quickly lined up to enjoy the performance and they managed to cheer the Blue Knights back for a brief encore.
Across the park playing the role of busker was 9-year-old Ethan Smith of Spokane Valley, who’ll soon be afourth grader.
He was playing the violin in the sun, and sported a handwritten cardboard sign saying he’s saving up for a new violin.
“He played at Hoopfest too,” said mom, Stephanie Smith, who was right there, armed with water and sunscreen. “We have been renting an instrument for four years, and now he’s saving his busker money to buy his own violin.”
Smith drew quite an audience.
“A new violin is about $500,” said Smith, who has $300 saved up including what he made at Hoopfest. “I think I can make it.”
Musical performers were scattered throughout the park, including bagpipers and the winners of BobFest, the city’s teen garage band competition. Day passes for park rides were sold at a discount between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. and there were lines at the gondolas and many of the other kiddie rides.
A new addition to this year’s festival was a community parade that was to depart from the Spokane Falls SkyRide at 1 p.m.
Andrea Boures brought her daughters Olivia, 6, and Sofie, 3-and-a-half, to walk in the parade.
The girls were wearing their best red-white-and-blues for the occasion.
“We are usually out of town for the Fourth and we do this little community parade on the Oregon Coast,” Boures said. “I saw this parade online this morning and decided to come down here so we wouldn’t miss our parade.”
Otto, Spokane Indians’ Spokaneasaurus mascot, and Gonzaga’s Spike soon joined the little crowd waiting for the parade to be lead by Riverfront Park’s red train and Uncle Sam on stilts.
Without much fanfare the parade took off leaving the Boures family, a handful of other people and two ponies decorated with sparkly red-white-and-blue bows behind.
“I guess that was it,” said Boures, before offering rides as a consolation to her two girls.
Bancroft senior presses on toward graduation day 
greenlibertarian on July 04 at 8:48 p.m.
Really hope there’s coverage of the 48th Annual Freedom at the Arboretum gathering. Good music, good friends, neighborly discussions, and of course, the reading of the Declaration of Independence by some 35 people, in sequence.
Present were Mary Verner, Dennis Hession, Shari Bernard, Jon Snyder, Richard Rush, Andy Billig, Sheriff Ozzie, and some other pols and wanna-be pols, church leaders, community leaders, and us regular folk.
A very nice time, good show of patriotism.
force_vector on July 04 at 8:54 p.m.
I hope Sheriff Ozzie was listening when the Declaration was read, and perhaps gave it a little thought.
leekinny on July 04 at 9:16 p.m.
You know, I hope everyone is having a great time, and our differences melt in the FUN of this joyous holiday.
greenlibertarian on July 04 at 9:46 p.m.
leekinny on July 04 at 9:16 p.m.
You know, I hope everyone is having a great time, and our differences melt in the FUN of this joyous holiday.
That was THE MAIN theme of Freedom at the Arboretum. Forget our differences, celebrate that which we have in common.
pakman on July 04 at 9:49 p.m.
It’s always good to read about the celebration back home and I am envious of all those who could attend the family picnics, events in the park and it sounds like the Freedom at the Arboretum gathering would have been great. I had the opportunity to celebrate the holiday at the US Ambassador’s home in Islamabad, Pakistan last night. It may be a bit ironic that the significance of the day can be felt so intensely, so far away. The Marine color guard, singing of the national anthem, a good (and brief) speech by the Ambassador made it a memorable experience. The PM of Pakistan spoke as well, recognizing the recent difficulties between the U.S. and Pakistan but, also suggesting the friendship and cooperation will endure. I think that remains to be seen, but for one night people from many countries gathered to celebrate an event that means so much to other people around the world.