Oak Harbor celebrates Independence Day

Seeing a ferris wheel spinning above the trees downtown tells the people of Oak Harbor that either one of two events is about to take place. Since many got their fill of klompen and tulips months ago, this can only mean one thing — fireworks are in the near future.

Oak Harbor’s Old-Fashioned Fourth of July celebration, sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce, is upon us. The carnival opened Thursday afternoon in Windjammer Park and will continue through Independence Day when it’s scheduled to open at 11 a.m.

On Monday, July 4, there will be a vendor market at the park from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. with goodies and gifts on sale.

At 11 a.m., the parade will take off from the intersection of Pioneer Way and Regatta Drive. The parade will follow the same route as April’s Holland Happening procession, winding down Bayshore Drive before coming out again on Pioneer Way near Ace Hardware.

This year’s parade will be led by Grand Marshal Karl Krieg III and his wife Darlyne. The couple will ride in style in their spiffed-up Kenworth pickup truck.

After the parade, families are invited back to the park for games and activities. At 2 p.m. there will be an egg toss, at 2:45 p.m. there will be a hula hoop contest, at 3:30 p.m. there will be a watermelon eating contest, at 4 p.m. a sack race, at 4:30 p.m. an egg spoon race and at 5 p.m. a jalapeño-eating contest.

Then, around 10:30 p.m. fireworks will take over the sky above Windjammer Park.

All events are free except for carnival attractions and purchases. Tickets can be purchased from booths on site.

 

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