Fourth of July festivities are on the horizon in Oakville this weekend with the Independence Day parade and associated activities taking place Saturday, July 6, in the east Grays Harbor County town.
The parade, which runs through Oakville’s main thoroughfare and briefly closes a section of U.S. Highway 12, will commence at 11 a.m.
Tony Medina, longtime manager of the Chehalis Tribe Youth Center, will serve as grand marshal.
“I think everyone in Oakville and the surrounding communities are really excited,” said Roberta Wilkinson, president of the Oakville Chamber of Commerce, which is organizing the event.
“Each year, the event continues to get bigger and better, and this one is no exception.”
A Kids Zone, with free activities for families — including face painting — will be available. The crew from Grays Harbor Fire District 1 will be on hand to let youngsters take a turn at targeting some “fire” targets with a firehose as well.
This year, the Royalty Court will be headed up by Oakville High School junior Jolynn Reed as Monarch. Courtier Alondra Mendez and Jr. Courtier Adelyn Murray make up the rest of the court.
A wide array of vendors will be on hand offering food and goods for attendees.
“We’re really thrilled with the group of vendors we have this year,” Wilkinson said. “We’ve got everything from the traditional hot dogs to some neat keepsakes like crystals, and even adoptable dogs.”
One of the most popular parts of the event is the judged “Scoot the Route” Car Show, which is celebrating a milestone fifth anniversary and has spirited competition in several categories.
“We’re amazed by the amount of interest in the car show,” Wilkinson said.
“I love the range of vehicles we see: everything from rusty rat rods to immaculate restoration jobs.”
The parade is also shaping up to be an eclectic one.
“This year, we’ve got RC cars, a cement mixer, a log truck and a school bus — along with the usual classic cars and floats. The judges are really going to have their work cut out for them,” Wilkinson said.
“We hope folks will come on out and have some fun,” Wilkinson said. “While the weather is supposed to be warm, we’ve got plenty of misters, bottles of water and our beer garden.”
She added, “Our theme this year is United We Grow, and I look forward to seeing our whole community united by this great event.”
For more information on the Oakville Chamber of Commerce Independence Day Event, email oakvillechambercommerce@gmail.com or call 360-930-9256.
