There are plenty of places and ways to celebrate freedom in Kitsap this weekend, from waterfront concerts to parades to bright bursts that light up the sky.
Celebrate the Viking way with Poulsbo, a city that kicks things off a day early, beginning Third of July festivities at noon on Saturday, July 3, at Waterfront Park downtown. Live entertainment will run until about 10 p.m., after which fireworks will go off in sync with tunes from music on KITZ 1400 AM. Poulsbo Mayor Becky Erickson speaks about the courage of the nation’s founding fathers after the National Anthem at 7:30 p.m., followed by the Navy Band Northwest Passage. Shuttle buses will run between North Kitsap schools on Hostmark Street and downtown to provide more parking. A roundtrip shuttle ticket is $2.
Indianola sweetens July 3 with its 35th annual Strawberry Festival from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Indianola Living Hope Church. Hear old-timey tunes and choose from a smorgasboard of baked goods for sale. Shortcake is $5 for a full portion and $3 for a half portion.
Fathoms O’ Fun sparks its Grand Fireworks Show over Sinclair Inlet at 10:30 p.m. Sunday, July 4. The free show can be seen from Port Orchard, the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and Bremerton. In years past the display has drawn more than 60,000 people. Live music also comes to the Port Orchard waterfront throughout the day, beginning at noon. Classic rockers the Greenbriar Project play from 8:30-10:30 p.m. at the Gazebo. (Info: fathomsofun.org and portorchard.com.)
The 43rd Grand Old Fourth events on Bainbridge Island include a street fair, foot races and a classic car show — plus a mile-long parade, all on Sunday, July 4. A pancake breakfast begins at 7 a.m. A street fair and historic baseball game start at 9 a.m., and a beer and wine garden is open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Fireworks fly over Eagle Harbor at dark. (Info: bainbridgechamber.com.)
Keyport is holding its annual Fourth Of July Pancake Breakfast, Parade and BBQ. Breakfast is from 8 a.m. until noon on Sunday, July 4. A parade follows at 1:30 p.m. Popsicles in the park and a free BBQ at the Keyport Bible Church are later in the afternoon.
A lack of funding almost nixed a fireworks show in Kingston, but enough money was raised in the home stretch that the show will go on at sunset Sunday, July 4. A Tiny Town children’s festival runs 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and a music festival runs from noon to 11 p.m. (Info: kingstonchamber.com.)
Up north, Hansville holds its Independence Day Pancake Breakfast with pancakes, eggs and ham from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Sunday, July 4, at Buck Lake Park. Kids under age 3 get in free, older kids eat for $3 and adults eat for $6. (Info: hansville.org.) WU
