It’s time to dig your American flag t-shirt out of the drawer and mark the start of summer in the Pacific Northwest with a 4th of July celebration. Here’s what you need to know about 4th of July food, drink, music and fireworks. 

Fourth of July Festival

When: July 4, 2022 |  3 p.m. 
Where: Legion Memorial Park
FREE to attend

The City of Everett is hosting a free Fourth of July Festival at Legion Memorial Park. If you’re not within walking distance, you’ll need to park at Everett Community College and take a shuttle to the park. 

The festival starts at 3 p.m. with live music by Massy Ferguson, Lady A and Eden beginning at 4 p.m. Food trucks will be on hand, and Everett Music Initiative is hosting a beer garden near the music stage. There’s fun for kids with the great playground and activities provided by Imagine Children’s Museum. 

Stay until 10 p.m., and you’ll be in a prime location for fireworks over Jetty Island. 

Rock The Fourth! EMI Concert

When: July 4, 2022 | 4:30 p.m. 
Where: Boxcar Park
$30 for advanced tickets, $40 at the gate

Everett Music Initiative is celebrating the fourth with a concert in what might be the most beautiful place for a show in all of Everett. The concert will have a retro vibe with Nite Wave’s 80’s sound and The Little Lies, a Fleetwood Mac tribute band. In addition, Road Trips will play hits from the 70s. 

You’ll need to bring a chair, and though coolers aren’t allowed, there will be food trucks, including El Mariachi Tacos Y Birria plus and a beer garden. It’s a 21+ show, so find a babysitter for the kiddos. 

Again, you’ll be in one of the best spots to view the fireworks. 

4th of July Waterfront Party

When: July 4, 2022 | 4 p.m.
Where: Hotel Indigo
$25, limited tickets on event day, they have an overnight hotel package

There will be local craft beers and wine from Château St. Michelle, lawn games and live music by the High Steppers. Children 5 and under are complimentary. 

Hotel Indigo is on the waterfront, and you’ll have an excellent view of the fireworks off Jetty Island. 

Everett Aquasox Game

When: July 4, 2022 | 7 p.m.
Where: Funko Field
It looks like tickets start at $13

I happened to be at an Aquasox game years ago on the 4th of July and was blown away by the fireworks after the game. I was expecting skimpy fireworks from a local stand and maybe even joked about it, but it was a full-on fireworks display and the best one I’ve ever seen because it was up close. An Aquasox game is a great 4th of July option if you have kids. 

Fireworks

If you are not up for attending events and just want to see fireworks, you should be able to find a good vantage point anywhere along the waterfront including Grand Avenue, Harborview and Edgewater Parks. The show should start at about 10 p.m. 

Please remember that fireworks are illegal in the City of Everett and may cause harm to military veterans, those suffering trauma and our pets. 

You may have noticed that I didn’t mention a parade. 

There won’t be one because funding for the event has been cut from the city budget. While I’ll miss the parade, I’m comfortable with the fiscal decision. Parades cost money and suck up a ton of staff time, and our city staff has other things to work on, such as homelessness and economic development. 

Some good news is that a group of volunteers is looking to bring the event back for 2023. Email Everett4thofJulyparade@gmail.com if you’d like to pitch in to help. 

Linda War Bonnet represents south Everett on the Live in Everett Team. When she isn’t working, she is running the Westmont-Holly Neighborhood Association. You might spot her walking her dog in the Holly neighborhood.