Your Handy Guide: An Edmonds Kind of Fourth

For the past 105 years, the Edmonds Chamber of Commerce has pulled out all the stops to present the best 4th of July event around. 

“An Edmonds Kind of 4th” features a 5K Fun Run/Walk, Children’s Parade, Main Parade and Evening Mini-Concert & Fireworks that wow over 25,000 spectators. Partnering with the Edmonds Chamber to make this year’s celebration especially memorable is the Hazel Miller Foundation, which contributed $30,000 to the community celebration.

Honored in the parade this year will be Grand Marshal, Veteran Ervin Schmidt, a highly decorated Naval veteran and member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars for 65 years. The 2013 Edmonds Citizens of the Year, Bill Brayer and Carol Brayer, founders of Edmonds-based non-profit, MS Helping Hands will also ride in style in the parade.

5K Fun Run/Walk (10 a.m. (Edmonds City Park, 3rd & Walnut))

What better way to start a day full of hot dogs, apple pie and ice cream than with a little exercise and the chance to run down the Edmonds Fourth of July Parade route? The 4th of July Fun Run is a 5K run, jog or walk through the heart of historic downtown Edmonds. Participants of all ages – and speeds – welcome to join in the fun! Register for this popular event sponsored be Swedish/Edmonds and Sound Women’s Care online at www.edmondswa.com. Find more information about the 5K event by clicking here.

Children’s Parade (11:30 a.m. Downtown Edmonds)

If a 5k run doesn’t get your blood moving for a day of fun, then 2,500 children marching and performing at a fevered pitch in the annual Children’s Parade will. The Children’s Parade, sponsored by Windermere Real Estate – Edmonds, features local youth hoisting banners, dressed in costumes, pulling wagons and playing music under bright sunny northwest skies.

Main Parade (12 Noon Downtown Edmonds)

Let the show begin! American flags adorn the streets of historic downtown Edmonds as nearly 10,000 spectators line the streets for a 2-hour march through the heart of Edmonds. The Main Parade, sponsored by Lynnwood Honda, features marching bands, local celebrities, street performers, floats and, yes, even a few politicians waving from convertibles!

Edmonds Firefighters Waterball Competition (2:30 p.m., City Park, 3rd Ave. S & Pine)

SeaWolves Soccer (4 p.m., Edmonds-Woodway High School Stadium, 7600 212th St SW)

Fireworks Display & Evening Concert (7:30 p.m. Civic Field, 6th & Bell) 

As day turns to dusk thousands of friends and family gather at Civic Field in Edmonds for evening of music, good food and entertainment. The night culminates with a spectacular fireworks display that illuminates the Fourth of July night sky.

For more information on “An Edmonds Kind of 4th” visit www.edmondswa.com.

What's your favorite part of the Edmonds July 4 celebration? Tell us in comments.