Towns light up for July 4

Skies and smiles will light up Tuesday around the county for July 4 festivities. Albion, Endicott, Johnson and Pullman offer showings of parades, food, games, friends and, of course, fireworks.

Albion

The Albion Fourth of July starts before the noon hour when parade entries line up on Third Street alongside the Albion park.

The parade starts to roll at 12 p.m. going two blocks up Third Street, turning right on Main Street, then onto Front Street and G Street to make a loop, ending back at the park.

The welcome-to-all parade will feature the Albion Fire Department along with a likely line of 4H groups, horse-and-riders and bike riders.

“It’s a little different every year,” said Lynn Fleharty, Albion librarian. “You never know what all will arrive. There’s also some old standbys, too.”

After the parade, lunch will be served at the park this year by Palouse Power Cheer, the Town of Albion and Albion Historical Society. Cost is $7 for adults, $5 for children for pulled pork, potato salad, baked beans and pop.

A bouncy house will also be set up at the park.

Endicott

Endicott will once again welcome neighbors from near and far to its annual old-fashioned July 4 celebration.

“It’s a community effort and a lot of fun,” said Cinda Tribble, co-president of the Endicott Community Club. “This is one of those events where there are a bunch of pieces that just pull together.”

Visitors and locals will congregate on the Endicott school grounds for all the day’s offerings. The pool opens for free swimming at 2 p.m.

Things pick up at 3 p.m. with the food booth, kids games, dunk tank and cake walk. Jenny Meyer from the Endicott Food Center will head the food booth with proceeds being split evenly between Endicott Parks & Rec and fireworks. Kids’ games include cookie stacking and sack races.

The Community Club will begin selling pie, plain or a la mode, at 5 p.m.

At 6 p.m. children with bikes, scooters, wagons and strollers will parade down the school sidewalk. The kiddie parade is sponsored by the Whitman County Library. Prizes will be awarded to the best decorated.

Ice cream and entertainment keep the evening going at 7 p.m. Corey Jenks will perform “family music that really rocks” and juggle. At his last visit to Endicott in 2015, Jenks turned up the heat with fire juggling. He performs throughout the northwest and has released three albums and various music videos.

Also on stage will be acts from the Palouse Project Productions, a musical variety group. Producer Paul Tousley stated, “We pride ourselves in performing entertaining and engaging shows rather than a cookie-cutter band just playing one song after another. Our music covers many genres, themes, styles, eras... etc. Our group is made up of aspiring performing artists from around the Palouse region.”

Line up for the Endicott 4th includes Colfax talent Madelyne Avila, Malainee Ward, Kat Wiley, Trevin Kennedy, RJ Reynolds, Evan Scott, Austin Ledbetter and Hayden Fulfs. Sara Merrick of Pullman and Tiann Drew and Josh Croyle of Moscow will also perform.

Ice cream social will be at the concession stand. Proceeds benefit the parks and rec and fireworks fund.

The big pyrotechnic display will again be orchestrated by Endicott native Tony Anderson. Cans will be set out at various locations for donations to support the fireworks.

After one visit to the Endicott celebration and fireworks show, visitors begin to look forward to the event. On Jenks’ performance calendar he states, “Come enjoy Endicott’s incredible fireworks display! I’ll be rocking a show just before it’s boom boom time. Music and fire juggling...it’s gonna be rad.”

Tribble added that volunteers to assist with set up and tear down can always be used.

The pool will close at 8 p.m. and re-open for late night swimming after the firework show.

Like the old adage for a wedding, Endicott is ready: something old (returning favorites, foods and friends), something new (new entertainment), something borrowed (the aid of all the organizers and volunteers) and something blue (and red and white exploding in the sky).

Johnson

The impromptu Johnson Parade is set to happen for its 51st edition.

Starting at 10 a.m. at the former Community building and going to the old Johnson-Union warehouse and back, the informal event began with a mother sending out her youngsters to entertain themselves on a Fourth of July morning of 1967.

The kids were the Druffels, and now they are just one generation of dozens of family members and others who participate in the event.

Parade entries are asked to line up before 10 a.m.

Whitman County Fire District 12 will put on a breakfast to start at 7 a.m. at the Community Building. Cost is $8.

Johnson and its population of 50-100 people often swells to three or four thousand for the annual parade.

Pullman

Pullman’s traditional family Fourth kicks off at 5 p.m. at Sunnyside Park. In addition to a large playground and inflatables for the kids, frisbee golf course and plenty of lawn to spread a blanket or set up chairs, a choice of picnic fare will be on hand with BBQ beef and chicken, hot dogs, hamburgers, corn, watermelon, cotton candy, popcorn, ice cream and pie again served at the park shelter.

Live entertainment starts at 5:30 p.m. with music for all ages by the Community Band of the Palouse, followed by Folk Singer and 2017 Pullman Walk of Fame Class member Dan Maher at 6:30 p.m. At 7:15 p.m., the Fabulous Kingpins will return to the stage to rock the crowd all the way to the fireworks.

The fireworks fill the sky above the park, choreographed to music provided by local radio stations.

In addition to city-wide bus routes, Pullman Transit provides park-and-ride from Safeway, Walmart, Living Faith Fellowship, Pullman Aquatic Center and North Grand Village Pizza Hut parking lot.

For more information contact the Pullman Chamber of Commerce at 509-334-3565 or visit their website.