The San Juans are already starting to swell with its annual influx of patriotic patrons. Festivities are held across the island, and include events such as a blind-folded dingy race, a community BBQ, beach cook-outs, cocktail hour, and, of course, fireworks! Whatever your speed, San Juan Island has the perfect 4th of July celebration for you.
Reuben Tarte County Park
For those seeking a quieter, star-gazing type of evening, decorated by far-off fireworks, Reuben Tarte is the place for you. This cliffside county park overlooks San Juan Channel, and has the least light pollution on the entire island. Perfect for star-gazing on any summer eve, the dark skies are taken to the next level on the 4th of July. Bring a blanket and a thermos of hot chocolate and look out over the water to the East for a beautiful display of both of Orcas Island’s fireworks displays from across the channel!
Schedule:
10pm: Fireworks (Deer Harbor and Eastsound, Orcas Island)
4th of July Beach
Aptly named for just this occasion, 4th of July Beach is the ideal spot for a beachy celebration featuring a brag-worthy fireworks display. Start the evening just down the peninsula at South Beach, where you can use one of the many designated fire pits to grill up your own burgers, corn, and s’mores while enjoying a beautiful sunset and some good company. Take your beach towels to 4th of July Beach at dusk for a perfect vantage point for the Lopez Island fireworks just across the channel!
Schedule:
10:30pm: Fireworks (Lopez Island)
Friday Harbor
One of the biggest charms of San Juan Island is the small-town feel that you find when strolling the streets of Friday Harbor. It’s no surprise, then, that this year’s 4th of July parade theme is “America… All that we Share,” which celebrates the common ideals that hold this island community together. Get a taste for what it’s like to live on island time, then get a taste of our amazing BBQ at our annual town Pig War Picnic (named after the infamous boundary battle between England and America in which the only casualty was a pig), put on by the Kiwanis Club of Friday Harbor. Along with good food and live music, this lunch-time event also features kid’s games, a cakewalk, and even a pie-eating contest!
If you’re thinking about grabbing cocktails on a patio before or during the show, make sure to call and reserve a table ahead of time. Downriggers and Friday Harbor House both have fantastic patios that overlook the marina, where the fireworks will be set off. Order takeout from Tops’l Sushi or Cask and Schooner, or pack a picnic to enjoy your dinner along the waterfront.
Festivities continue after dinner at the Port of Friday Harbor, which features live music by the Camillions, a local island rock band, right up until the fireworks begin at 10pm. For best fireworks viewing, set up camp on the grassy lawn at Fairweather Park or along the Marina docks, but be sure to nab a spot early for the best views! Bring a blanket for those chilly evening breezes, a lawn chair for comfort, and some non-alcoholic refreshments to enjoy the show with.
Schedule:
10:30am: Friday Harbor Parade, Downtown Friday Harbor (Spring Street)
11:15am (directly following parade): Pig War Picnic and Festivities, San Juan Historical Museum Grounds (405 Price Street)
Pie-eating contest, cakewalk, kid’s games, live music and a BBQ!
Evening, port of Friday harbor (204 front st.) – live music by the Camillions until the fireworks start at 10pm!
10pm – Friday harbor fireworks – bring a blanket or some lawn chairs and grab a spot (come early!) on the grass at Fairweather park, out on the docks, head to a patio (reservations recommended) – Friday Harbor House or Downriggers
Roche Harbor
For a truly patriotic experience, there is no place to celebrate the 4th like Roche Harbor. A hot-spot for Yachters year-round, this holiday brings both the American and the Canadian crowd for the holiday weekend, filling the docks with elaborately decorated yachts and even more elaborately decorated guests. The resort goes all-out with their décor and events, holding a day-long celebration that is not to be missed! Tune in to your inner ritzy side, dawn your wildest patriotic gear, and party the day away with these family-friendly events!
Be sure to block out some time to explore the docks before the show begins; some yachters even have live music off of their back decks! Bring a blanket or a lawn chair and make your way down to G dock for a front-row seat of the fireworks, or reserve a table at the Madrona beforehand to enjoy a patriotic cocktail and nibble on some garlic fries on a huge, gorgeous patio overlooking the entire harbor.
Check out this video for a sneak peak at what Roche Harbor has in store!
Schedule:
9:00am: Fun Run, Yellow Brick Road
10:30am: Kid’s Games, Pool Lawn
12:30pm: Doughnut Eating, West Lawn
3:30pm: Blindfolded Dinghy Race, in the Harbor
4:00pm: Log Rolling, water beside the Wharf Building
Dusk: Daily Colors Ceremony, beside Lime Kiln Café
10:30pm: Fireworks, in the Harbor