By Kevin Hanson-The Courier-Herald
Downtown Enumclaw will come alive July 4 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 1 p.m. with a welcome by Enumclaw Mayor John Wise, recognition of currently members of the military and veterans, patriotic songs and cake honoring America's 231st birthday.
Downtown will be a hot spot for the younger set beginning at 1:30. There's a long list of free activities, made possible thanks of a handful of local business. For example, there will be an arts and crafts tent, candy scramble, ball pond, duck pond, balloonist and inflatable slide, among other attractions. In addition, 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 includes a country hoedown from 1:30 to 3 and a performance by bluegrass band Runaway Train from 4 to 6 p.m.
The hoedown features Joel Brantley and his mix of current country tunes, along with a sampling to tunes from years gone by. During the show, both kids and adults are invited on stage to lend their voices and learn to line-dance.
The Stars and Stripes parade, sponsored for the second year by Auburn Sheet Metal, gets rolling at 6 p.m. The grand marshal this year is Brian Scalabrine, an Enumclaw High School graduate who went on to basketball stardom at the University of Southern California and has parlayed that into a solid career in the National Basketball Association. After being drafted and playing three years with the New Jersey Nets, Scalabrine is in the third year of a contract with the Boston Celtics.
The festive 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, but donations will be accepted. The show is scheduled to begin at dusk, generally around 9:30 p.m.
Kevin Hanson can be reached at khanson@courierherald.com.
