This year’s Fourth of July Summerfest will feature the return of some beloved pre-COVID-19 traditions in new locations, as the City of Centralia, the Centralia Downtown Association, Centralia College, the Southwest Washington Fairgrounds and Windermere Real Estate all partner to hold an event-packed Fourth of July celebration.
The theme this year is “Red, White and Retro.”
Longtime Summerfest attendees will remember the morning Fun Run and pancake breakfast typically took place at Fort Borst Park, followed by games in the park.
Summerfest organizers have been slowly bringing those traditions back after pandemic-related shutdowns, “But it’s going to be a little bit different than people have seen,” said Centralia Downtown Association President MacKenzie McGee.
For one thing, the free Fun Run will take place in downtown Centralia this year, with Pine Street Plaza serving as the check-in spot.
“We’re trying to focus it a little bit more on downtown,” McGee said.
Centralia College will host the afternoon field games, including cornhole and a football toss, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Peters Field.
The Centralia Downtown Association will stage the parade right along Centralia College Boulevard, with the parade itself set to start at 4 p.m. The parade will move through its usual route on Tower Avenue and Pearl Street.
Organizers encourage attendees to grab a bite at one of downtown Centralia’s many eateries or bring a picnic to George Washington Park in the two-hour break between the end of the field games and the start of the parade.
“Grab something to eat downtown or bring your own picnic, hang out in the park and then kind of start to slowly find your spot for the parade,” McGee said.
After the parade, Summerfest activities shift to the Southwest Washington Fairgrounds, where the popular annual demolition derby will begin at 7 p.m.
The City of Centralia’s fireworks display will follow at 10:20 p.m.
The morning Fun Run, the afternoon field games and the evening fireworks display are free to attend. Admission to the demolition derby is $12 for adults and $10 for children.
For more information or to register for the parade, visit www.downtowncentralia.org or call 360-880-4648.
Look for a full roundup of local July 4 events in Saturday's edition of The Chronicle.
