By Kevin Hanson-The Courier-Herald

Downtown Enumclaw will come alive Friday with games for kids, entertainment and the traditional parade along Cole Street. And all that will be capped, again, by a fireworks display at the Enumclaw Expo Center.

The Fourth festivities kick off at noon with a welcome by Enumclaw Mayor John Wise and a presentation by the color guard, patriotic songs and cake honoring America's 232nd birthday.

Downtown will be a hot spot for the younger set beginning at 1:30 p.m. There's a long list of free activities, as sponsors have paid much of the cost. Additionally, this year, the Stars and Stripes organizing committee has subsidized the popular pony rides, reducing the cost to $2. The only other item involving cost is face painting and tattoos, which will be $1.

As usual, kids will have the opportunity to decorate their bikes, tricycles and strollers; those who participate will be invited to join the parade later in the day.

Downtown entertainment begins at 12:15 p.m. with music by Kevin Jones and continues at 1 p.m. with Joel Brantley and his mix of current country tunes. During the show, both kids and adults are invited on stage to lend their voices during his interactive presentation.

Taking over at 3 will be the Nextlan Mexican Dancers and performing at 4 will be the Estrella del Norte Mariachi Band.

All entertainment will be on the stage in the parking lot along Cole Street.

The annual Stars and Stripes parade gets rolling at 6 p.m. Grand marshals this year will be the families of deceased airmen James Whitehead and Thomas Clarkston, who were killed in December 2006 when their military helicopter crashed into nearby Mount Peak during a training mission.

The day will be capped by the traditional fireworks show at the former King County Fairgrounds. There's no charge for the fireworks display or parking and the show is scheduled to begin at dusk, generally around 9:30 p.m.

Kevin Hanson can be reached at khanson@courierherald.com.