4th looks to be a groovy kind of day

By Meg Olson

The Fourth of July in Point Roberts is famous for a day of simple traditional fun and a rousing celebration of our nation’s independence. This year promises to be no different. “We’re going to have a great Fourth,” said parade organizer Terrie LaPorte.

The day starts with a pancake breakfast sponsored by the Tsawwassen Rotary that gets underway at 8:30 a.m. at TJs so you’ll just have time for a quick bite before heading to Lighthouse Marine Park where Trinity Lutheran Church is holding a special Fourth of July service on the boardwalk at 9 a.m.

Then it’s off to the parade, which starts at 11 a.m. from Kiniski’s Reef Tavern at the foot of Gulf Road. “We’ve got lots of entries this year – neighborhood organizations, families, organizations and businesses. It’s a day for everybody to showcase who they are and what they do,” LaPorte said. This year’s theme for the parade is the ’60s so it’s sure to be some kind of mind-blowing experience for parade participants and viewers alike.

As parade participants gather in the Reef parking lot at 10:30 a.m. all kids with decorated bikes should look for the red Point Roberts Shell truck and sign up with Sue Longo for the gas station’s bike decorating contest. The bikes will ride behind the truck during the parade for judging and all participants will win a slushie after the parade. The most fabulously decorated bike owner will win a skateboard.

The parade route runs past Brewster’s Restaurant where you can enjoy the show in style at their special July 4 brunch, past the community center where you’ll find the official parade booth, and the MP gas station where little ones can play while waiting for the parade to start. The parade takes a right onto Tyee and ends up down in the marina overflow parking lot.

After the parade festivities continue Lighthouse Park with free games from 1 to 3:30 p.m. sponsored by Point Recycling and Refuse, including the skillet toss, watermelon seed spitting, and potato sack racing. The chamber of commerce is sponsoring local Dixieland Jazz band Latitude 49 to play for the afternoon and Lighthouse Café will be open with a special Fourth of July Barbecue.

BACK TO TOP