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Alpine Shores is Liberty Lake’s daytime destination on the Fourth of July before events shift to Pavillion Park and over the lake in the evening. The annual parade begins at noon, with games and family activities immediately following.

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Fireworks and festivities
6/30/2015 12:19:44 PM

By Treva Lind
Splash Contributor

Liberty Lake's annual Fourth of July celebrations promise a full day of fun, from the community parade to a free concert in Pavillion Park followed by fireworks.

Families can even launch the weekend's entertainment a night early, with the July 3 free outdoor movie "Rio 2" shown at dusk in Pavillion Park.

New this year, the city of Liberty Lake will provide a Fourth of July fireworks show to be launched from near the new ballfields area, a celebration coinciding with the longtime favorite pyrotechnic display over the lake. Both displays are expected to shoot off around 10 p.m.

Much earlier that day, the fanfare kicks off about 10:30 a.m. Saturday, when people start to line up for the annual community parade at noon in the Alpine Shores neighborhood. The parade focuses on patriotism and what U.S. Independence Day means for the benefit of young kids, said organizer Dave Graham. 

Each year, people decorate their bikes, scooters, trikes and wagons in patriotic themes to complete the route. Organizers give out awards to participants in multiple categories, and they don't require registration to march, Graham said. Although organizers previously announced plans to expand it, the parking situation remains unchanged from years past. It is available on neighborhood streets and at Liberty Lake Church, 704 S. Garry Road.
 

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This year's official t-shirt, front design above, will be available for sale July 3 at 6 p.m., with any leftovers sold at the parade.


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At 6 p.m., the patriotic party moves to Pavillion Park for a concert followed by a pair of fireworks shows. The new city-sponsored show will be set off near the new Liberty Lake Ballfields, and the traditional over-the-lake show (below) will coincide further south.


Parade awards will be given at about 11 a.m. prior to the event's start for participants that include families and friends, clubs, teams and neighborhood groups. The event doesn't allow gas-powered cars or pets as part of the festivities. However, decorated golf carts are allowed. 

The parade's grand marshal selection this year honors Margaret Vandiver, longtime community resident and active homeowner's association member. At noon, the Boy Scouts present the colors of the American, state and local flag, followed by the "National Anthem," Graham said, and the parade officially begins.

Although Central Valley High School's Marching Band and alumni attended last year's event, the group won't this year to focus on a return in 2016, said Eric Parker, director. He said CV members plan to march in Liberty Lake's parade for each even calendar year as a balance for its members in a busy family-focused holiday time.

Each year, the Liberty Lake parade draws many families with young children who enjoy games afterward, Graham said, but he again emphasized that people need to leave dogs at home.

"One issue we need to say is people should not bring their pets," Graham said. "We want to keep dogs at home because we have little ones out there playing games, and we have lots of food out there."

T-shirt sales
The Liberty Lake Fourth of July T-shirts will be available for purchase around 6 p.m. July 3 on the upper street island on Liberty Drive near Liberty Circle in the Alpine Shores neighborhood. 

Quantities are limited and are sold on a first-come, first-serve basis with cash or checks only. Any remaining shirts will be sold at the parade, and all proceeds go to supporting the parade celebration costs.

Resident Rodney Kern annually creates the design for the celebration's collectable shirt. This year, the image displays a silhouette of a person riding a stand-up paddle board. Shirts will be Carolina blue. For the first time, there will be a limited number of women's style T-shirts. Others will be adult sizes, S through XXXL, and children's sizes small and large. 

Last year, T-shirt prices ran between $10 for youth up to $16 for extra-large sizes.

Parade's after-party
After the parade, volunteers run kids' games and family activities in the Alpine Shores common area. Vendors also are on site who charge for food and other wares. 

Activities run for about two hours, and games typically include egg toss, water balloon toss and sack races, among other family activities. 

The Fourth of July parade organizers rely on a volunteer force who would welcome additional helpers from any area of Liberty Lake or Spokane Valley, Graham said. People who are interested in volunteering for the day's events can call Graham at 255-6131. 

Concert
By late afternoon, people will start setting up blankets and chairs in Pavillion Park for the traditional Fourth of July concert, starting at 6 p.m. Friends of Pavillion Park presents the free concert that this year features the headliner group Milonga, a Spokane band that plays musical traditions of Latin America, Spain and the Caribbean.

Founded in 2001, the group plays regularly throughout the Northwest.

Parking will be available at Liberty Lake Elementary School, and a free shuttle from the school to the park will begin running around 5 p.m. Kiwanis also will sell food concession items at the park, including hot dogs, popcorn and cotton candy.

For more information, go to www.pavillionpark.org.

Fireworks
For the city's fireworks display near 23900 E. Boone, people can enjoy the Milonga concert and then remain in Pavillion Park to view the fireworks at 10 p.m. The city is asking the public to stay safely away from where crews shoot off the actual fireworks, which is adjacent to the new ballfields in an area coned off for security.  

Western Display Fireworks is the Oregon company contracted to handle the city's display, at a cost of $10,000.

Meanwhile, the community-funded fireworks are set up from floating docks to go off high over the lake, which reflects the bright aerial colors. People often watch that display from Liberty Lake County Park or join private gatherings of residents from near-shoreline locations, but parking is limited. 

The community fireworks show over the lake is paid solely through donations from residents and local businesses. The total cost is about $12,000, said organizer Denise Coyle. Look for places to donate at the Farmers Market, outside Albertsons and online at www.libertylakefireworks.com. The Liberty Lake Fireworks Fund also receives donations by mail at P.O. Box 430 in Liberty Lake. 

• • • 

At a glance: Fourth of July weekend events

FRIDAY, JULY 3
6 p.m.: T-shirt sales begin, corner of Liberty Drive and Liberty Circle

Dusk: Free movie showing of "Rio 2" (rated G) at Pavillion Park

SATURDAY, JULY 4
10:30 a.m.: Parade lineup begins at the corner of Shoreline and Liberty drives

Noon: Parade begins, followed by games and festivities at Alpine Shores common area

6 p.m.: Concert at Pavillion Park featuring T. Scot Wilburn and the Shutup-N-Playboys, followed by Milonga (shuttle from LLES begins at 5 p.m.)

10 p.m.: Fireworks displays over the ballfields area and the lake

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