The weather on Saturday, July 4, will treat Seattle residents well: forecasters are promising a dry, sunny day with no rain, with temperatures around 24°C. There may be some cloudiness in the morning, and by evening the mercury will drop to 18°C, so a light jacket won’t be amiss. Meteorologist Anna Lindemann from the National Weather Service calls the day “nearly perfect” for celebrations.
The main festivities will take place in Gas Works Park and Lake Union, where the Seafair festival is traditionally held — a multi-day city celebration that has been taking place in Seattle since the 1950s and has become a symbol of summer and local identity. Its program includes hydroplane races, an air show featuring the Blue Angels aerobatic team, and a big parade. Starting at 15:00, there will be music, sack races, and pie-eating contests, and at 22:20 fireworks will begin; the show will be broadcast live on Fox 13. Free tickets are required for entry to Gas Works Park, and they can be obtained on the organizers’ website (a $10 donation is recommended). At Lake Union, tickets aren’t required, and for motorists there is free Amazon parking — a major local employer that traditionally supports Seafair by opening its parking lots to festival visitors as part of its corporate social responsibility.
In Everett, the celebration will begin with an 11:00 parade at the intersection of Colby Avenue and 25th Street. Participants will be able to leave their cars at the Everett Station and use the free shuttle. After the parade, from 15:00 to 22:45, the “Colors of Freedom” festival will be held at Legion Memorial Park with free admission and a shuttle from Everett Community College. Fireworks over the Snohomish River and Port Gardner Bay will start at 22:15 and last 18 minutes; the music can be heard on KXA 96.9 FM.
In Tacoma, the main event is “Summer Explosion” on the Ruston Way waterfront: starting at 12:00, more than 150 vendors will be on site, live music will be playing, and there will be children’s games. In the evening, around 22:00, a 20-minute fireworks show will be launched over the bay and can be seen from the parks of Dune Peninsula to Jack Hyde. A special area on the pier at Cummings Park has been set up for people with disabilities. Everywhere, organizers remind attendees about safety measures and recommend arriving early.
Based on: Good weather and lots of events locally for America's historic birthday - The Seattle Times