Albion, Endicott, Johnson, Pullman slate festivities for the 4th

Endicott

The Endicott Community Club is sponsoring the Endicott Fourth of July.

The day begins at 3 p.m. when the concession stand opens and the activities start with face painting, dunk tank, sack races, balloon toss, cookie stacking contest, bake walk and jumpy house.

At 5 p.m., the pie sale, sponsored by the community club, will begin.

At 5:45 p.m., the bike parade, which also includes wagons and strollers, staging area will open behind the concession stand. The parade will go down the school sidewalk at 6 p.m.

Ice cream sundaes will be served starting at 7 p.m., sponsored by the Endicott Parks & Recreation Board.

Thorn Creek Express, four brothers who play old time country, swing and bluegrass tunes, will take the stage. Songwriter and Western singer Farmer Dave also will entertain. Entertainment will be from 6 to 9 p.m.

National Anthem will be played at dusk, followed by fireworks. Pyrotechnician and Endicott native Tony Anderson will again orchestrate and set off the fireworks display.

July 4th T-shirts will be on sale all day long, and food bank donations can be made at the concession stand.

Pullman

By Garth Meyer

Gazette Reporter

Last year, Cliff Miller, leader of the Fabulous Kingpins, told of riding down the streets of Nezperce, Idaho, in his brother’s car listening to his favorite 8-track, “Bachman Turner Overdrive’s Greatest Hits.”

This year, for the 15th Fourth of July in a row, the Fabulous Kingpins will summon that spirit as the opening act for an expanded show for Pullman’s Sunnyside Park Fourth of July celebration.

Earlier this year, a $5,000 donation from Sunset Marts went straight to the fireworks budget for the 38th annual Pullman Fourth of July, said Amberly Boone, coordinator at the Pullman Chamber of Commerce.

“It should be the best fireworks show Pullman has ever seen,” she said. “Definitely people won’t want to miss this.”

The evening begins with barbecue starting at 5 p.m. at the park shelter. Featured items include hot dogs, hamburgers, barbecued beef and chicken sandwiches, corn on the cob, beans, pies, popcorn, cotton candy and ice cream. Profits from food and beverage sales all go to pay for the fireworks each year.

Soon after the barbecuing starts, Pullman Community Band will perform from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. followed by local folksinger Dan Maher. The Fabulous Kingpins will then take the stage at 7 p.m. for three hours of newer and classic rock until the fireworks begin at approximately 10 p.m.

“It really is a big event for us,” said Miller. “One of our most anticipated shows of the year. It’s great being a part of it and interacting with the crowd, to make them really part of the show.”

Pullman Transit will again offer free rides to and from the celebration. Starting at 4:15 p.m. the A, Loop and South routes will detour up to the park at the end of each loop. In addition, Pullman Transit will also operate an additional A and Loop route beginning at 9:50 p.m. Dial-A-Ride service, scheduled at least a day in advance, will be available to and from Sunnyside Park. For more information, call Pullman Transit at 332-6535.

Each year more than 100 volunteers help to put on the event.

One such recurring group, Boone said, is the members of Resonate Church. This year, a group of about 30 will help with set up and run the parking, while also monitoring the bounce house in the kids area. The next day they will be involved in the cleanup.

“There’s so many things I like about it,” said Jessica Dahl, on-campus catalyst for Resonate Church. “Pullman does such a big party for a small town.”

Personal fireworks are prohibited at Sunnyside which is an alcohol-free venue.

In addition to Pullman Parks and Recreation division, Sunset Marts, WSU Student Entertainment Board, Associated Students of Washington State University and Pullman Radio stations Hit Radio 104.3, NewsTalk 1150 AM and 105.3 FM assisted with funding.