Guide to July 4th in Seattle: Festivals, Events, Things to Do

Seattle Seafair Summer Fourth

This firework show has been canceled for 2020.

Stake out a spot at Gas Works Park or pretty much anywhere else on or along the shores of Lake Union to see what a thousand pounds of fireworks looks like in one grand display. Activities typically include live music, games, pie-eating contests, sack races, and more. This event is usually extremely popular so parking is limited and the use of public transportation is encouraged. General admission is free but VIP seats can be purchased online.

T-Town Family Fourth

This event has been rescheduled for later in 2020. Check the website for updates.

Billed as Washington State's largest one-day event with more than 80,000 attendees each year, Tacoma's T-Town Family Fourth, formerly known as ​Freedom Fair, fills the Ruston Way Waterfront in Tacoma with multiple music stages, a car show, an air show, food vendors of all varieties, and a kids zone. The event draws large crowds, but the location is worth it and well-suited for its size. Since it's spread out on Ruston Way, there's lots of room and many different viewing points to watch the show.

Bellevue Family 4th

This event has been canceled for 2020.

If you want a larger celebration, but perhaps not quite as large as Seattle's, Bellevue's Downtown Park is filled with family-friendly fun all day long on July 4. Across Lake Washington, about 60,000 people usually show up to enjoy live music, food, and the Family Fun Zone and Plaza. You can also expect a presentation by the Bellevue Fire Honor Guard and a performance of the National Anthem. At dark, the Bellevue Youth Symphony Orchestra will accompany a spectacular fireworks show with a musical performance.

Everett Colors of Freedom Parade and Festival

This event has been canceled for 2020.

30 minutes north of Seattle, the town of Everett celebrates Independence Day with an all-day event. which kicks off with a morning parade at Colby and Wetmore Avenues. The parade features marching bands, clowns, puppets, stilt walkers, and more. After 1 p.m., patriotic revelers head to Legion Park Bluff for an evening of live music, kids' entertainment, a food fair, a beer garden, and fireworks to cap it all off at night.

Carnation Fourth of July Celebration

This event has been canceled for 2020, but the 5K race will be held virtually. You'll find more details on the organizer's website.

Located in the Snoqualmie Valley, about 35 miles from Seattle, Carnation is a small town that likes to throw a big party for the Fourth of July. Expect the day's events to run the gamut, from a 5K run/walk, a pancake breakfast, a late-morning parade, three-on-three basketball, a car show, food, music, vendors, strawberry shortcake feast, and fireworks. In short, you'll have no trouble keeping busy all day long. The event kicks off at 8 a.m. and continues until fireworks at dark.

Celebrate Kirkland

This event has been canceled for 2020.

July 4 usually fills Kirkland's downtown waterfront with family fun. The day starts with a children's parade, continues with the hometown parade, and you'll find plenty of food and music and Marina Park. Fireworks start at dark and are visible from Marina Park, Heritage Park, and boats on Lake Washington.

An Edmonds Kind of 4th

This event has been canceled for 2020.

Just north of Seattle, the charming town of Edmonds has been celebrating the Fourth of July for over a hundred years. This celebration is all about community and the event's signature fun run wrangles in some community pride as runners chase someone dressed up as Edmond's founder George Brackett, or "Old Man Brackett." Fireworks are set off from the Civic Stadium at dark and during the day there are typically two parades, games, and even a beard and mustache contest.

Kent Fourth of July Splash

This event has been canceled for 2020.

Kicking off at noon at Lake Meridian Park, the Kent Fourth of July Splash goes all day long until fireworks at dark. You can expect games like giant Jenga, food booths, and a bounce house for the kids, as well as live musical entertainment. The fireworks will be set off over the lake, making the awe-inspiring display all the more stunning.

Renton 4th of July Celebration

This event has been canceled for 2020.

Gene Coulon Memorial Beach Park is typically home to Renton's annual Fourth of July celebration that's filled to the brim with family fun. Here kids and families can enjoy two activity zones, join in the volleyball tournament on either a sand or grass court, or kick back with some food and listen to the live music that lasts from noon to 9:30 p.m. To cap it all off, a 25-minute fireworks display will take place over Lake Washington.

Sammamish Fourth on the Plateau

All city events, including Independence Day celebrations, have been canceled by the city for 2020.

Starting at 6 p.m., Sammamish Fourth on the Plateau usually fills Sammamish Commons Park with lots to do. You can grab dinner at one of the food trucks, let the kids bounce around on the inflatable bounce houses and slides, or enjoy the new grown-up game area with super-sized Jenga and corn-hole. Stick around to the end of the night to see the fireworks, which usually kick off around 10 p.m.

Tukwila Family 4th at the Fort

This event has been canceled for 2020.

Fort Dent Park in Tukwila kicks off its July 4 party at 4 p.m. with bounce houses, airbrush face painting, kids activities, a food court, and live music. Food vendors in the past have included Off the Rez, Seattle's first Native American food truck, All About Cookies, My Newt Mini Donuts and Shave Ice, and more. The event typically ends with fireworks at dark.

Bainbridge Island Grand Old Fourth of July

This event has been canceled for 2020.

A 35-minute ferry ride from downtown Seattle, you can go to downtown Winslow on Bainbridge Island for the annual Independence Day celebration. The party typically includes an all-day street fair, food races, a car show, beer and wine garden, an old-timers baseball game, kids activities like pony rides and mini-golf, and a grand hometown parade starting at 1 p.m, plus fireworks after dark

Bellingham Haggen 4th of July Celebration

This event has been canceled for 2020.

About 90 miles north of Seattle, you can find the biggest fireworks display in Whatcom County in Bellingham. The Bellingham Haggen Fourth of July Celebration includes a bit of everything from a kids' zone and a beer garden. Kids can also typically enjoy face painting, games, and circus performers from the Bellingham Circus Guild. As this is a major event, parking will be tight and attendees are encouraged to walk, bike, or use the free shuttles.

Port Angeles 4th of July Celebration

At the time of writing, it is not yet clear whether this event is on for 2020, but the City of Port Angeles has also publicly considered pushing the festivities back to Labor Day weekend. Check the city's website for the latest updates.

85 miles northwest of Seattle, the Port Angeles City Pier kicks off a day of fun at noon. It's an All-American celebration and you'll find everything from hot dogs to apple pie and baseball. The Port Angeles Lefties, a collegiate summer baseball team, will be onsite to sign autographs and chat with fans. Here you'll also find a wine and beer garden, a parade, pickleball and corn-hole tournament, a lawnmower derby, live music.

Fort Vancouver 4th of July Fireworks Show

This event has been canceled for 2020.

165 miles south of Seattle (and just 10 miles north of Portland, Oregon) Vancouver, Washington, typically hosts the largest fireworks display in the Portland metro area. The display takes place over Fort Vancouver National Historic Site, which is the best place to go to watch the show as you cannot spot them from Portland, Clark College, or the Columbia River. There will be food on site as well as live music and you can bring along your own food, blankets or chairs. Before the fireworks, you can also visit The Marshall House, Providence Academy, Fort Vancouver, or Pearson Air Museum during the day.

Grand Coulee Dam Festival of America

This event has been canceled for 2020.

The typically annual fireworks set off from the top of the Grand Coulee Dam, 287 miles east of Seattle, are often voted one of the best shows in the state. After the nightly laser show, the fireworks will be set off from the top of the dam, but before that, you can also enjoy a rodeo, live music, and a food fair. There will also be kids activities like games and arts and crafts and you may have the opportunity to go boating.

Leavenworth Kinderfest

117 miles east of Seattle, the Bavarian-themed village of Leavenworth makes the Fourth of July celebration all about the little ones at Kinderfest, which appears to be on for July 4, 2020. The Bavarian-themed village hosts games for kids and families. Activities include a bike parade, cupcake walk, disc golf, nature walks, fishing lessons, and more, but your main motivator for celebrating Independence Day in Leavenworth is to experience the beautiful mountain scenery bursting with summer wildflowers.

Spokane 4th of July Festival

This event has been canceled for 2020.

Spokane is the second-largest city in the state and over 200 miles away from Seattle, so you can expect grand things from its July 4 festivities typically held at Riverfront Park. The party usually starts at noon with live music going all day long until the fireworks get going at dark over the Spokane River Gorge. Throughout the day there will be plenty of food, family fun, craft vendors, and even a beer garden.

Yakima's 4th of July Celebration

This event has been canceled for 2020.

Yakima, 150 miles southeast of Seattle, usually celebrates Independence day with old-fashioned family fun. Kids' activities include a watermelon eating contest, sack races, and even an inflatable water slide. You can also expect a parade, food vendors, carnival rides, live entertainment, and a pyrotechnic show to cap it all off.