Events will celebrate Independence Day

There will be several opportunities to celebrate Independence Day in Camas and Washougal and surrounding areas. Port of Camas-Washougal The port's festivities Saturday, will get underway with a children's patriotic bicycle parade at 3:45 p.m., at Marina Park, 24 S. "A" St., Washougal. Face painting and other children's activities will begin at 4 p.m. and conclude at 5:30 p.m. The Sky Bound Blue Band will perform at 6 p.m., followed by 5 Guys Named Moe at 8:30 p.m., and fireworks at 10 p.m. In addition to the Camas Lions beer garden, there will be tacos, sandwiches, hot dogs, snow cones, flavored popcorn and cotton candy available to purchase. Admission is free. Complimentary parking and shuttle rides will be available at the site of the future waterfront development, 335 S. "A" St. For more information, call the port office at 835-2196 or visit www.portcw.com. American Legion Post 122 and Auxiliary The eighth annual American Legion Post 122 Auxiliary children's Fourth of July parade and community celebration will begin Saturday, at noon. Children are invited to dress in red, white and blue, or patriotic costumes, decorate their bikes, wagons and pets, wave streamers or flags and walk with their friends. All entries must by non-motorized. Parade participants will assemble by 11:45 a.m., in the Cape Horn-Skye Elementary/Canyon Creek Middle School parking lot, 9731 Washougal River Road, Washougal. The parade route will be along Washougal River Road, ending at the American Legion Hall, 10221 Washougal River Road. A community celebration will occur at the hall, where there will be food available to purchase and free games for all ages. For more information, contact Janelle at 837-3312 or visit www.facebook.com/americanlegioncapehornpost122. Fireworks at Fort Vancouver The gates will open Saturday, at 8 a.m., at Evergreen Boulevard and Fort Vancouver Way, Mill Plain and Fort Vancouver Way, East Reserve Street and Evergreen Boulevard, and East Reserve and East Fifth streets. The Fort Vancouver Visitor Center is located at 1501 E. Evergreen Blvd. Admission will be $7 per person for adults at the gate. There will be no charge for children age 12 and younger to attend. The live entertainment, starting at 1:30 p.m., will include The Family Band, Steve Hale & The Soul Heroes, Patrick Lamb Band, Carrie Cunningham & The Six Shooters, Portland Taiko Japanese Drummers, Rock Steady 234th Army Band, Andy Madson Band and The Nu Wavers with Jennifer Batten. The fireworks are scheduled to launch at 10:05 p.m. During the day, there will be black powder demonstrations and guided walking tours of the Vancouver East Barracks. A children's patriotic parade will begin at 4 p.m. Attendees can bring picnics or purchase food from vendors. There will also be arts and crafts and costumed interpreters. According to the Washington State Department of Transportation, the northbound I-5 off-ramp to Mill Plain Boulevard will be closed Saturday, from 6 to 10:30 p.m. The westbound and eastbound state-Route 14 off-ramp to Columbia House Boulevard will be closed from 9 to 10:30 p.m. C-TRAN will provide special event shuttle service from Westfield Vancouver Mall to the fireworks display at Fort Vancouver. The shuttles will operate at least every 15 minutes between 6 and 8:30 p.m., from 8700 N.E. Vancouver Mall Drive, and they will return passengers to the mall immediately following the fireworks. The cost to ride will be $2 cash, per person, for round-trip. Exact change will be required. C-TRAN day and month passes will be accepted, and children age 6 and younger can ride for free. For more information about the Fourth of July at Fort Vancouver, call 992-1808 or visit www.fortvan.org/fourth. Skamania County Fairgrounds Skamania County General Services and the Stevenson Business Association will celebrate the nation's birthday Saturday, with live music and fireworks at the Skamania County Fairgrounds, 650 Rock Creek Drive, Stevenson. The Stingrays will perform classic rock covers beginning at approximately 7 p.m. Popcorn, cotton candy and candied apple pie will be available for purchase. The fireworks show is scheduled to begin at 10 p.m. No personal fireworks will be allowed in Rock Creek Park or on the fairgrounds. Admission is free. For more information, call (509) 427-3980 or visit www.skamaniacounty.org/facilities-rec/homepage/parks/.

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