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Liberty Lake lights up the Fourth
6/29/2011 11:03:48 AM
Splash file photo
Residents begin filling the park at last year's Fourth of July concert. This year's show starts at 7:30 and will be followed by fireworks.
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By Tammy Kimberley
Splash Staff Writer
Fireworks over the lake, the community parade, collectible T-shirts and a free concert at Pavillion Park are all part of the tradition etched in the personality of July 4th at Liberty Lake. Although some events have been added or changed over the years, members of the community have gathered to celebrate together in some fashion for more than 20 years.
The purpose of the parade and other festivities is to celebrate heritage and freedom as well as promote community spirit, parade committee member Jan Wesche said.
"It's all about honoring our flag and our country," she said. "What (the parade) does is create wonderful memories for the children who go down the road, as well as the grandmas and grandpas who watch."
The event lineup kicks off with T-shirt sales on Friday, a double movie feature during the weekend followed by a community parade, games, concert and fireworks on Monday to celebrate the July 4 holiday. Advertisement
At a glance
Fourth of July weekend events
Friday
4 to 7 p.m.: T-shirt sales on the upper island of Alpine and Liberty Lake drives
Saturday
Dusk, "The Lion King" movie in Pavillion Park
Sunday
Dusk, "October Sky" movie in Pavillion Park
Monday
10 a.m.: Roads close for parade route; T-shirt sales at 512 S. Shoreline Drive
11 a.m.: Parade lineup begins at the corner of Shoreline and Liberty drives
Noon: Parade starts followed by games and festivities in Alpine Shores Park
7:30 p.m.: Men in the Making concert at Pavillion Park
10 p.m.: Fireworks display
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Submitted Graphics
Russell Kinney designed this year's July 4 T-shirt, and the printing was done by Tracy Phelps of Momentum Ink. |
Front graphic
Back graphic
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Splash map graphic
Funds needed for July 4 events
Volunteers and non-profit organizations oversee the festivities celebrated in Liberty Lake over the July 4th holiday. Many of them have expressed a need for donations, so listed below are ways you can give to help cover their costs.
• Residents who would like to offset expenses associated with the parade and after party can donate to the non-profit group, The 4th of July at Liberty Lake, by mailing a contribution to 4th of July, 508 Shoreline Drive, Liberty Lake, WA 99019. For more information, go to www.4thofjulyatlibertylake.com.
• The parade committee is looking for a business willing to underwrite costs for the buttons given to kids who participate in the parade. For more info, e-mail April Munyon at munyona@aol.com.
• The games committee is looking for prizes appropriate for kids. Businesses are welcome to donate balloons, old trinkets or kid-friendly items. To donate money or items for prizes, e-mail Dave Moore at rockntag@msn.com.
• Donations to Friends of Pavillion Park, the non-profit organization that offers free movies and concerts in the parks, can be made at www.pavillionpark.org.
• Donations for the fireworks can be sent to the Liberty Lake Fireworks Fund, P.O. Box 430, Liberty Lake, WA 99019. For more information, call Denise Coyle at 255-6837. |
T-shirts for sale on Friday
The Liberty Lake Fourth of July T-shirts will be available for purchase on Friday from 4 to 7 p.m. on the upper island of Alpine and Liberty Lake drives. Any remaining T-shirts will also be for sale July 4 starting at 10 a.m. at 512 S. Shoreline Drive.
The design for this year's collectible T-shirt was created by Russell Kinney, and sponsorship for the shirts was provided by Border Patrol Concrete Landscape Borders.
The price is $15 for an adult size and $10 for a child's size. Organizers said proceeds from the shirts offset costs associated with the parade.
Movies to play in park
The weekend boasts a movie double feature as Friends of Pavillion Park kicks off its outdoor cinema series.
"The Lion King," rated G, will run on Saturday night. The 1994 animated film tells the story of a lion who flees into exile after believing he killed his father but later finds his identity as the future king.
Sunday's showing is PG-rated "October Sky." It is the true story of Homer Hickam, a coal miner's son who was inspired by the first Sputnik launch to take up rocketry against his father's wishes.
Both movies are free and begin at dusk. The Liberty Lake Kiwanis will sell concessions.
Parade and after party held in Alpine Shores neighborhood
The patriotic parade and celebration will be held on noon in the Alpine Shores neighborhood. Kids and their families are invited to decorate their bikes, scooters or wagons in patriotic themes to march along the parade route.
"Each July 4, we stage our annual parade and celebration in honor of our country's independence, to perpetuate our heritage and especially to make memories for the kids," parade committee member Dave Graham said. "We love to have folks come down and be part of the community parade."
For the first time this year, Graham said the May Hutton Daughters of the American Revolution will dress up in period clothes and bring patriotic banners to march in the parade. The group will include Liberty Lake residents Sandra Coultrap, Stacy Elliott and Joy Sturgis.
Roadblocks will be set up around 10 a.m., when the parade route will close (see map at left). Parking is available on the streets around the neighborhood and at Liberty Lake Church, 704 S. Garry Road.
Parade lineup will begin at 11 a.m. at the corner of Shoreline and Liberty drives. Golf carts are allowed, Graham said, but motorcycles, cars or other gas-powered vehicles will be turned away. He also asked that dogs and cats be left at home.
While the Alpine Shores Homeowners Association began the celebration 23 years ago, Graham said the event become too big a financial responsibility for neighbors to assume. Costs sometimes run $1,500 or more for the parade and after party, he said.
He said volunteers from various areas of Liberty Lake decided last year to create a non-profit corporation, The 4th of July at Liberty Lake, to continue planning and handling donations for the event to cover expenses such as insurance, buttons for parade participants, portable restrooms and other miscellaneous items.
Immediately following the parade, games will start up and food will be available in the Alpine Shores Park area. Committee member Cheryl Leavell said Frank's Franks has committed to being there, and she is working on securing a burger vendor.
Committee member Dave Moore, who has been organizing the games for 18 years, said adults and kids are invited to participate in free activities such as an egg toss, water balloon toss, pie-eating contest and gunny sack races. While some of the funds for prizes come from his own pocket, Moore said he is thankful for past supporters such as Albertsons, Fred Meyer, Papa Murphy's, Safeway and Starbucks.
"We don't charge money for any games or prizes; it's all free," he said. "But we're always looking for donations or people who want to help out."
For more information or to see photos of last year's event, go to www.4thofjulyatlibertylake.com.
Concert in park on Monday
Known for entertaining all ages, Men in the Making will return to Pavillion Park on Monday at 7:30 p.m.
The Spokane-based group, who last performed at the park in 2005, is known for its renditions of 1950s to 1980s music legends. They are the first group of the season to perform in the Friends of Pavillion Park concert series.
"They're a good local band, and they've been well received here," FOPP President Josh Schluter said.
Schluter said FOPP is putting up better signage this year regarding parking, which will be available at Liberty Lake Elementary School. A shuttle from the school to the park will begin running at 5 p.m., and the Pavillion Park parking lot will be reserved for the elderly and those needing extra assistance.
Kiwanis will be selling concession items including hot dogs, pizza and Great Harvest Bread Co. cookies and bars. People are encouraged to bring blankets or low-backed chairs to enjoy the concert followed by the fireworks show, which usually begins around 10 p.m.
For more information, go to www.pavillionpark.org.
Fireworks to light up sky
The sky above Liberty Lake will be filled with fireworks starting around 10 p.m. Monday.
For the fourth year in a row, Rocketman of Spokane Valley is putting on the fireworks show. The show can be seen from Pavillion Park, Liberty Lake Regional Park and private beachfronts.
Denise Coyle, who along with husband, Tim, have coordinated the show for more than 10 years, said they have reconfigured the display due to the growth of trees between the lake and Pavillion Park.
"There should be more fireworks that go higher in the air, so more people at Pavillion Park will be able to better see the display," Denise Coyle said.
She said there are no corporate sponsors for the fireworks show, which usually runs between $9,000 to $12,000. It is all funded by donations from individuals that are either mailed in or collected at Albertsons, along the parade route and by walking through Pavillion Park during the concert.
"We're just looking forward to the Fourth and hoping for no rain," Coyle said.
LLPD establishes plan for traffic
In order to handle the estimated 5,000 visitors coming into Liberty Lake on July 4, the Liberty Lake Police Department is contracting with Northstar, a local traffic control company.
Similar to previous years, the LLPD's traffic control plan calls for flaggers from Northstar to assist in getting traffic through Liberty Lake as safely as possibly, Sergeant Clint Gibson said. This allows police to be freed up to respond to emergencies and calls for service.
From 6:30 p.m. until after the fireworks show, Molter Road between Country Vista and Boone Avenue will be closed, as well as Country Vista between Wright Boulevard and Molter. Flaggers will be stationed at those and other intersections to direct traffic and help pedestrians cross.
The Spokane Valley Fire Department will put up a limited amount of barricades at fire lanes along the lake in unincorporated Liberty Lake. Fire Marshal Kevin Miller said that residents should be reminded that fireworks, even sparklers, are illegal in Spokane County.
"We've had a wet spring, so fire danger may not be as high as in years' past, but it only takes a spark to get things going," Miller said. "Be vigilant and have a fun, safe Fourth."
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