Down-home Fourths around county

From riverfront cities to suburban communities to tall-timber country, Clark County residents will be able to celebrate Monday in several down-home Fourth of July events.

Fire officials are urging people to use Fourth of July fireworks safely and legally this summer. They’re also emphasizing that different jurisdictions have different laws governing when people can light those fuses.

Legal times for fireworks use:

o VANCOUVER: 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. July 1 through July 3; 9 a.m. to midnight July 4.

o CAMAS: Noon to 11 p.m. June 28; 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. June 29 through July 3; 9 a.m. to midnight July 4; 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. July 5.

o WASHOUGAL: 9 a.m. to midnight July 4.

o BATTLE GROUND: Noon to 11 p.m. June 28; 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. June 29 through July 3; 9 a.m. to midnight July 4; 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. July 5.

o RIDGEFIELD: Noon to 11 p.m. June 28; 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. June 29 through July 3; 9 a.m. to midnight July 4; 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. July 5.

o LA CENTER: 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. June 29 through July 3; 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. July 4.

o YACOLT: Noon to 11 p.m. June 28; 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. June 29 through July 3; 9 a.m. to midnight July 4.

o UNINCORPORATED CLARK COUNTY: Noon to 11 p.m. June 28; 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. June 29 through July 3; 9 a.m. to midnight July 4.

Only Camas, Battle Ground and Ridgefield allow residents to set off fireworks on July 5.

There are also some differences in schedules for fireworks stands: Sales will continue until 9 p.m. on July 5 in Camas, Washougal, Battle Ground and Ridgefield.

Camas-Washougal, Ridgefield and Yacolt will cap their celebrations with free fireworks displays at dusk.

The Felida Neighborhood Association and its partners will hold their annual mid-day community event, headlined by the Felida Children’s Parade.

The festivities also offer a chance for some communities to show off a little civic pride and celebrate their heritage.

Some Ridgefield residents say their annual Fourth of July celebration has been going on for a century or so. They’re willing to share the fun with their neighbors, drawing up to 5,000 people annually.

“We have more people come than there are in the city’s population,” said Sandy Schill, festival director. (The most recent estimate puts Ridgefield’s population at 4,370.)

Organizers for the free picnic following the Felida Children’s Parade also say they plan for a crowd of 4,500 to 5,000.

Ridgefield 4th of July Celebration

The Oregon Air National Guard will make a brief but spectacular appearance during Ridgefield’s parade. The 142nd Fighter Wing, based in Portland, has slated an F-15 jet fighter flyover at 11 a.m. The jets are typically about 1,000 feet above the ground, with an airspeed of about 350 mph, during flyovers.

The day starts with a pancake breakfast from 7 to 10 a.m. at the community center; fun runs begin at 8 a.m.

The pet-and-kid “pre-parade” begins at 10 a.m., and at 11 a.m., the Fourth of July Parade will observe an “American Movies” theme.

The Lions Club will hold a chicken/salmon barbecue in Abrams Park from noon to 3:30 p.m. There will be kids’ events from noon to 6 p.m. From 6 to 10 p.m., there will be an all-ages street dance on North Main Avenue.

The fireworks show will begin at 10 p.m. at a location that will be announced Monday.

Camas-Washougal Fourth of July

Festivities start at 6 p.m. at the Port of Camas-Washougal, which is teaming to host the event with the city of Washougal.

The celebration at Marina Park, 24 S. A St. in Washougal, is free and open to the public.

Music by the King Brothers Band begins at 6 p.m. There will be food vendors and a beer garden.

Fireworks will be launched from a barge in the Columbia River at dusk.

Felida Children’s Parade

Parade participants will assemble their bicycles, tricycles and wagons at Felida Park and head out onto Northwest 39th Avenue at 11:15 a.m.

The parade will return to Felida Park, between Northwest 122nd and 127th streets, west of Northwest 36th Avenue, at 11:45 a.m.

Post-parade activities include free picnic lunch. There also will be entertainment, games, displays, face-painting and free rides on antique fire engines.

The event will wrap up at 2:30 p.m. It is presented by the Felida Neighborhood Association, the North Salmon Creek Neighborhood Association and the Hazel Dell-Salmon Creek Business Association.

Yacolt July 4th Rendezvous

The celebration starts with a 10 a.m. parade at Railroad Avenue and Yacolt Road.

The posting of the colors will be at noon, with the kids village opening at the North Clark Little League fields.

Other events include presentation of the “Citizen of the Year” award and a performance by vocalist Darcy Schmitt.

There will be couch races at 2 p.m. on Christy Street, lawn-mower races at 3 p.m. at the Little League fields, a talent show at 3:30 p.m., and a concert at 5:30 p.m.

Fireworks will begin at dusk.

Tom Vogt: 360-735-4558 or tom.vogt@columbian.com.