Get ready for a swashbuckling 4th of July!

By Meg Olson

Point Roberts will be all about pirates on the 4th of July, led by the local Pirates hockey team, recent division champions in the Coast Hockey League.

“In honor of their win the Pirates have agreed to be our marshals,” said parade organizer and chamber of commerce president Terrie LaPorte. LaPorte said she already had 14 entries in the pirate-themed parade and anticipated the usual deluge of drop-in floats on parade day, reminding participants they needed to register in the Breakers parking lot before the 11 a.m. parade start. The parade will run down Gulf Road, turn right on Tyee Drive and end in the marina overflow parking lot.

Due to requests from participants last year LaPorte said they would have prizes for first, second and third place floats this year along with participant ribbons for everyone in the parade. “It’s just a small town that says here we are and we’re having a good time,” LaPorte said.
Dylan’s at the Shell station are having a contest of their own. Kids will be meeting at the gas station at 10:30 to decorate their bikes and will all ride together in the parade as the Freedom Flyers, with prizes for the best decorating jobs.

There are plenty of opportunities to fuel up before, during and after then parade. The day starts off with the Tsawwassen/Point Roberts Rotary pancake breakfast at T.J.’s, which starts at 8:30 a.m. For fancier parade-side fare both Café Capanna and Brewster’s have special brunches.
After the parade everyone will head for Lighthouse Marine Park where Point Recycling and Refuse is again hosting “traditional fun and games.” Garbageman Art Wilkowski has added an event close to his heart this year. “In addition to the ever popular skillet toss we’re adding a new men’s only event – the garbage can toss,” he said. “We’ve found garbage cans make a very satisfying clunk. There will also be sack races, a tug of war, real wheelbarrow races, Dixieland music by 49th Parallel, and plenty of bubble blowing.”

Wilkowski is working with the local Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) on a fundraising kids carnival with traditional fairway games like the hoop toss and basketball shoot, with prizes for everyone who plays. An armband for the day is $20 or tickets are $1 per game. “I’ve got a whole bunch of really crazy prizes,” Wilkowski said. The PTO will sell hot dogs and snacks.

The traditional cakewalk, a musical spin the wheel to win a cake, is being replaced this year by a hatwalk. “I have a vision of a nice sunny day, the band playing, people running around in the bubbles wearing crazy hats. Very festive,” Wilkowski said.