Compiled by Kat Bryant
Grays Harbor News Group
The first week of July is a very busy time around Grays Harbor. Numerous events will celebrate America’s Independence Day, including the 40th annual Tokeland Parade.
In addition, there’s plenty going on up north for Chief Taholah Days — the Quinault Indian Nation’s annual commemoration of the signing of the Quinault Treaty in 1855. That massive festival includes a variety of sporting competitions and much more from July 3 to 7.
Within these pages is a complete rundown of the major community events going on this week.
Wednesday, July 3
Seabrook
The annual Porch Illumination walk starts at 6 p.m. Each year, residents decorate their homes and people walk around to pick their favorites. Participants must vote by 9 p.m. at Crescent Park, where s’mores will be served around the firepits.
Taholah
Chief Taholah Days kicks off July 3 with the diabetes fun run/walk starting at 9 a.m. at the Fitness Center. After that, the Family Fun Day Barbecue with field sports will begin at 11 a.m. at the Taholah School and the volleyball tournament will start at noon at the school.
Kids Bingo will start at 3:30 in the school gym, and a free hypnotist show will be staged there at 6:30.
Thursday, July 4
Aberdeen
The annual Splash Festival, split between Morrison Park and Seaport Landing, is a day of family activities to celebrate America’s independence.
The festivities will begin at noon at Morrison Park with interactive games, local crafts and food, and live entertainment.
Games will include a pipeline dual-lane slide, an “all star” obstacle course, and an “under the sea rock wall. The local Home Depot will host a youth workshop, and the YMCA of Grays Harbor will offer temporary tattoos.
On the family-friendly entertainment schedule are magician Jeff Evans at 12:30 p.m.; comedian Bill Robison at 2; and pirate performer Cap’n Arr at 3:30.
The Morrison Park activities will shut down at 5 p.m.
Across the Chehalis River at the Grays Harbor Historical Seaport, the gates will open at 1 p.m. for dockside tours of the Lady Washington and Hawaiian Chieftain, which will be available until 3:30.
The tall ships will leave the dock for a Battle Sail from 4 to 6 p.m., followed by an 8:30 Fireworks Sail. (Tickets for those sails, and others during the week, are available in advance through www.historicalseaport.org.)
Live music will start at 5 p.m. with Six Pack Pretty, followed by Electric Eye at 7:30 and Nerve On Ya at 9:15.
Fireworks will begin at 10 p.m. over the water.
Food and beverages at Seaport Landing will be provided by Galway Bay Irish Pub of Ocean Shores. Other vendors also will be on hand, along with a variety of family games and activities.
Parking is available at the Seaport. A $5 donation per car is appreciated, with proceeds going to the Grays Harbor Historical Seaport.
Ocean Shores
Quinault Beach Resort & Casino will host a backyard barbecue from 4 to 8 p.m. The boardwalk will be closed shortly afterward, and the professional fireworks show will start at dusk (about 10 p.m.). Local deejay Johnny Manson will coordinate music with the pyrotechnics.
Personal fireworks will be allowed on the beach only from the Damon approach to the Marine View Drive access road. They may be set off only between noon and 11 p.m. July 2 and 3, and from noon to midnight July 4. Fireworks must be kept at least 100 feet away from the dune grass, and they may not be launched from decks or balconies.
Visitors are advised to arrive early, park wisely and keep an eye on the ocean. The tide will start coming in at about 8:40 p.m., peaking near 10 feet just before 3 a.m.
Seabrook
The winners of the Porch Illumination people’s choice and judges’ choice awards will be announced during the Flag Presentation at 11 a.m. at the Front Street Amphitheater flagpole.
Taholah
The IHS Fun Run/Walk will start Day Two of Chief Taholah Days at 9 a.m. at the Community Center. The horseshoe tournament will begin at 9:30 at Sea Breeze Stadium.
At noon, the parade will start lining up at Housing. The Royalty Pageant will follow at 2 p.m. at Heritage Park (or, in case of rain, in the school cafeteria).
Sporting competitions will go on all afternoon. The 3-on-3 tournament is set for 1:30 p.m. at Snob Hill Court; field sports at 3 at Sea Breeze; outboard canoe races at 3:30 at the riverfront; and boxing at 7 at the Community Center.
At Heritage Park, the Cultural Jam will begin at 5 p.m., followed by a dance at 9 p.m. Fireworks will start at dusk at the mouth of the Quinault River.
Westport
The Westport South Beach Historical Society will host the annual Old-Fashioned Fourth of July Celebration from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Maritime Museum.
The flag ceremony with National Anthem will start at 11 a.m.
Access to the grounds is free; tickets may be purchased for food and some activities. Children’s games will be conducted with prizes. There also will be bounce houses, a cake walk, a bake sale, craft and food vendors, live music and a silent auction.
Later on, the Booming Bay Fireworks Display will begin at dusk over the Westport Marina.
Friday, July 5
Taholah
The Cancer Fun Run/Walk will start Day Three of Chief Taholah Days at 9 a.m. at the Community Center. The horseshoe tournament will continue at 10:30 at Sea Breeze Stadium, and adult Bingo will start at 11 a.m. at the Taholah School.
Outboard canoe races will continue at 4 p.m. at the riverfront. Field sports will take place at the stadium starting at 5, and boxing at the Community Center at 7.
At Heritage Park, the Talent Show will start at 1:30 p.m. and the watermelon eating contest at 3:30. Later, the dance will begin at 9.
Saturday, July 6
Oakville
The annual parade will kick off “Scoot the Route,” Oakville’s Independence Day celebration.
The parade and cruise will begin at 11 a.m. with the theme “America the Beautiful.” Entries will include classic vehicles, marching bands, equestrian units, logging equipment, decorated floats and more.
Classic cars, trucks and motorcycles will park after the parade and remain on display for the rest of the day.
The family-friendly celebration will start downtown at noon, with live music, food purveyors, arts and crafts vendors, and more. A Kids Zone will feature bounce houses and art activity tables. The annual “Hoop it Up” 3 on 3 tournament and other games will take place throughout the afternoon. And at dusk, the Chamber of Commerce will show a “Movie in the Park.”
The annual Oakville Junior Rodeo also will be going on all weekend at the rodeo grounds.
Taholah
Chief Taholah Days culminates in the two-day Adult Co-Ed Softball Tournament, starting at 8 a.m. July 6 and 7 at the Tribal Office field.
Tokeland
The Tokeland North Cove Chamber of Commerce is presenting the 40th annual Old Fashioned Fourth of July Parade & Picnic.
The parade begins at 11 a.m. at the Tokeland Marina and winds its way up Kindred Avenue past the Tokeland Hotel. Anyone can walk in the parade, even with pets. Prospective participants must be at the marina no later than 10:30 a.m. to register and begin lining up. Prizes will be awarded in several categories.
For spectators, public parking locations will be designated along the route. (The lot at the Tokeland Hotel will be reserved for hotel guests and handicap parking.) Plan to arrive early, as vehicle access to Kindred Avenue, Emerson Avenue, Eighth Street and Fisher Street will be closed from 10:45 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. for the parade.
Afterward, hot dogs, beans, chips and lemonade will be served behind the Tokeland Hotel. Donations will be requested for the Tokeland-North Cove Chamber of Commerce to help fund future parades.
After lunch, games will include a traditional sack race and a water balloon toss for all ages. Toddlers will be able to find treasure in the hay pit.
To commemorate the event’s 40th anniversary, the Tokeland Chamber will have photo albums on display showing parades from years past. The chamber says Gene Kuest documented the first parade in 1979: “Two neighbors and I decided we would like to have a parade. We just talked it up with some of the neighbors and without any permits or permissions we hit the highway.”
Sunday, July 7
Tokeland
The Tokeland Chamber also is sponsoring the annual Tokeland Trek, a family- and dog-friendly community hike.
On-site registration will begin at 10 a.m. at the Tokeland Hotel. The trek itself is free. Walkers may choose to purchase the commemorative shirt ($15-$20) and/or a $10 sack lunch from the hotel (cash only on the day of the trek).
The highlight of this event is exclusive access to Dave’s Tokeland Trail. At 11:15 a.m., longtime resident and hiking enthusiast Dave Hawthorne will conduct a guided tour from the rainforest to the seashore, talking about about the area’s flora and fauna.
Guests also are welcome to meander through the Willapa Bay grasslands on a self-guided walk; the trailhead is behind the Tokeland Hotel gazebo. The Shoalwater Bay Tribe graciously maintains the 12-foot-wide mowed trail from the Tokeland Hotel about three-quarters of a mile back toward the bay.
Pre-registration is available through TokelandNorthCove.com.
