Fourth of July on San Juan Island is like no other. Hundreds of people flee the city life to head to this little island to experience the parades, fireworks, picnics, fun runs, and various other festivities that are offered on the July 4th weekend. Both Roche Harbor and Friday Harbor have an impressive array of events for the entire family to enjoy. Some favorites? The log-rolling and donut eating contests are a favorite in Roche! Even if you choose not to participate in the powdered sugar frenzy or icy-cold balance tests, they sure are fun to watch. We were excited to cheer on each and every participant, who should all be applauded for their bravery and Fourth of July spirit!
If you're a fitness enthusiast at heart, you'll love that both harbors offer 5k fun run's on the morning of America's birthday. If you time it right, you can even run the Friday Harbor firecracker run at 8:00 a.m. and hustle over to the Roche Harbor run at 9:00 a.m. Is there a better display of patriotism then running TWO 5k races in two hours? It will definitely make that brautworst taste even sweeter during your afternoon BBQ.
Not a runner? You can spend the morning exploring the island and it's plethora of hikes, be it Mount Finlayson, Mount Grant, Young Hill, or the beautiful cliffside trails in Lime Kiln State Park. Pack a picnic and enjoy your lunch with the sound of water lapping against the rocks and some sweeping views of the Olympics. There's no better accompanient to a hearty fruit and cheese platter!
More in the mood to dance or chill? Rock the Dock happens in the evening at Friday Harbor, with live music, a bar, and a local restaurant providing some hearty food right next to the main dock. Get your dance on while enjoying the good vibes and friendly company of the locals. Plenty of bars and restaurants in town provide live music as well, so don't limit yourself to just one concert - go explore the happy little town of Friday Harbor and make some memories!
There really isn't a better way to end the day then with a dazzling fireworks display. You've got two main options to choose from if you head to San Juan Island. Friday Harbor and Roche Harbor each offer their own shows, and there's plenty of vantage points, be it along the docks, from a boat, a beach, a deck, the streets...really, wherever you are, you'll probably see something. And once the night winds down, you'll have some once-in-a-lifetime memories of a magical holiday spent on a one-of-a-kind island in the Pacific Northwest to take home with you.
If you haven't had a chance to experience the Fourth of July here, come join us next year and see what all the fun is about!