Now that Fort Vancouver is not having a firework display this year,
where can a family go see the best firework display this Saturday?
Thanks
-PW, Portland
Hey PW. Great question. The fourth IS upon us, isn’t it? Personally, me and Missus PDX Advice Guy are planning on heading on up to Long Beach in order to enjoy the splendor of a day at the beach. I know, I know, I should be hitting something Portland-related. However, the wife does like the beach and, well, she IS the wife. Anywho, enough about us and my plans to get REAL fireworks.. let’s see what’s around Portland:
The first Fourth I spent here was hanging out on the Hawthorne Bridge and watching the fireworks at Tom McCall park while also taking in the Waterfront Blues Festival. I have to admit that I do love me some great blues music, so the opportunity to hang out and take in some tunes while the fireworks got started was amazing. I only wished I’d have had a boat so I could have been on the water. The fireworks are free, of course, you just have to park somewhere within your own sense of walking distance in order to get a good spot either on the bridge, or near the shore. Entrance to the Blues Festival (should you decide to take in some music beforehand) is a $10 donation and two cans of food. It benefits a great cause and, again, it’s the blues.
Another big draw is Oaks Park. What I like best is that fireworks kick off at 9:55, but bracelets for rides expire at midnight. Seriously, how cool is it to be able to ride rides while fireworks are going off? The best part is that admission is a paltry $4 for adults (that would be 16 and older) while the young’uns (15 and under) are a wallet-busting $2.50. The PDX Advice Family is 2 adults and 2 kiddos strong, so admission would be $13. THIRTEEN, people. You want cheap? This is it. Comcast is also sponsoring live entertainment throughout the day. So get there early (gates open at 10) and keep plenty of sunscreen and umbrellas handy. This is a sure-fire winner, especially if you’ve got kids around 11 – 13.
For the more sporty-inclined, the Portland Beavers are taking on the Colorado Springs Sky Sox at PGE Park. Fireworks are set to start after the Beavs finish handing Colorado Springs a loss while they try to climb out of last place in their division. Much like Oaks Park, admission runs anywhere from $8 to $14.50, unless you feel like ponying up $35 in order to get into the exclusive Left Field lounge where you can enjoy being near the Beavs dugout and also a nice summer-food buffet. Regular tickets are available at TicketMaster. The special $35 tickets can be had by calling the Beavers’ ticket office at 503-553-5555.
Lastly, I’m gonna take you juuuuuuuuuuuust a bit outside of Portland. While The Wife loves Long Beach, I have to confess a love for Seaside. Accordingly, I can also suggest the Seaside Chamber of Commerce 4th of July event. While Seaside is a bit of a drive (and yes, not Portland), you really can’t quite beat spending a day at the beach and enjoying great fireworks and some of the best simple snack food around. There’s no cost, of course (which is ALWAYS a plus, especially in this current economy), but the beach DOES fill up quickly, so get there early to stake out your spot and kick back and just enjoy your long weekend (if you happen to get one).
Honestly PW, there’s a lot going on. Yes, it’s sad that Fort Vancouver is cancelled, but that just means you get to explore all the other options around. Heck, you can even help honor my Oklahoma heritage by taking in a rodeo! Of course, you can also just grab up some fireworks and even make a small display at home with your family while having a cookout. Sometimes, there’s just no substitution for family time. No matter what you do PW (or any other PDX folks), just make sure you have a safe holiday. The good Lord gave you 10 fingers and 10 toes.. let’s keep it that way.
And now, dear OurPDX readers, I do my usual and turn it over to you all. Maybe you’ve got a somewhat secret spot that you like and want to share? Maybe you know of a massive display that absolutely MUST be seen to believe? Why not share it in the comments? I’m sure PW could use more suggestions and hey, if you put something cool out there that just makes things look that much better for you right? Absodamnlutely.
As always, I leave you with a recommendation of giving me a star-spangled follow on Twitter. And maybe you need a little advice for yourself? Why not send me an email and let’s see what I can figure out for you!
Be good!
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There are also some nice fireworks at Blue Lake Park.
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