Wishing you a safe, sane Fourth of July
All of us at Island County look forward to celebrating the Fourth of July like many of the community members we serve – with barbecues, parades, and festive displays of red, white, and blue. At the same time, we encourage people to get to know which fireworks are legal to buy and sell, when and where it is legal to light them off and how to prevent fireworks-related injuries and damage.
Across Washington state, and that includes in all of Island County, it’s illegal to sell or discharge firecrackers, bottle rockets, skyrockets, missiles and M-80s. All homemade fireworks are also illegal to sell and discharge.
Fireworks are expressly prohibited in all of Island County parks. In fact, in addition to county parks, fireworks are illegal in the following locations:
- Federal lands, including land managed by the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and U.S. Forest Service
- Public property, public streets, sidewalks, parking lots and school property
- On private property without the owner’s permission, and from private property onto public property
Hours legally designated for the discharge of legal fireworks on Whidbey and Camano islands are restricted to 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. July 3 and July 5 and 9 a.m. to midnight July 4. While certain fireworks may be legal, it doesn’t necessarily mean they’re safe, especially for children, according to the National Safety Council. Sparklers, for example, burn at about 2,000 degrees – hot enough to melt some metals. Sparklers can quickly ignite clothing, and children have received severe burns from dropping sparklers on their feet. According to the National Fire Protection Association, sparklers alone account for more than 25% of emergency room visits for fireworks injuries. For children under 5 years of age, sparklers accounted for nearly half of the total estimated injuries.
(1) It is legal to sell and purchase consumer fireworks within this state from twelve o'clock noon to eleven o'clock p.m. on the twenty-eighth of June, from nine o'clock a.m. to eleven o'clock p.m. on each day from the twenty-ninth of June through the fourth of July, from nine o'clock a.m. to nine o'clock p.m. on the fifth of July, from twelve o'clock noon to eleven o'clock p.m. on each day from the twenty-seventh of December through the thirty-first of December of each year, and as provided in RCW 70.77.311.
(2) Consumer fireworks may be used or discharged each day between the hours of twelve o'clock noon and eleven o'clock p.m. on the twenty-eighth of June and between the hours of nine o'clock a.m. and eleven o'clock p.m. on the twenty-ninth of June to the third of July, and on July 4th between the hours of nine o'clock a.m. and twelve o'clock midnight, and between the hours of nine o'clock a.m. and eleven o'clock p.m. on July 5th, and from six o'clock p.m. on December 31st until one o'clock a.m. on January 1st of the subsequent year, and as provided in RCW 70.77.311.
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PLEASE MAKE EVERY EFFORT TO PROTECT YOUR CHILD(CHILDREN)
AND PETS FROM DANGER
To add your event to this page, please email info to: info@whidbeylocal.com
Maxwelton July 4th Parade
The Maxwelton July 4th Parade is happening for 2023. For more than 100 years, the parade has marched through this small unincorporated community. From school bands to 4-H clubs to civic groups, everyone who is anyone marches in this parade. The parade begins at noon. Registration and shuttle service begins at 10:30 a.m. There is no cost to enter.
Oak Harbor Old‑Fashioned Fourth of July Old-Fashioned
Independence Day Celebration is packed with events.
Carnival at the corner of Midway Blvd & Bayshore Dr
June 30 Friday 4pm - 10pm
July 1 Saturday 12pm - 10pm
July 2 Sunday 1pm - 10pm
July 3 Monday 4pm - 10pm
July 4 Tuesday 12pm - 10pm
Car Show on SE Pioneer Way between Midway Blvd & SE Pasak
July 1 Saturday 12pm - 4pm
Street Fair (Arts & Crafts booths, Food trucks, Beer Garden) on SE Pioneer Way between City Beach St & Midway Blvd
July 1 Saturday 10am - 6pm
July 2 Sunday 12pm - 6pm
Whidbey Wags Parade & Fair
(parade for cats & dogs with their owners; fair with games, pools, snacks at the finish line) Parade starts in Windjammer Park at the west side kitchen, proceeds along the path closest to water, and finishes in Flintstone Park. CLICK HERE for more information.
