ARLINGTON — The Fourth of July in Arlington begins with Pancakes in the Park at 7 a.m., in Haller Park, when registration for the Pedal, Paddle, Puff runs from 8 – 9 a.m. until the race starts at 10:30 a.m. The Pedal, Paddle, Puff triathlon begins at Haller Park with the bicyclists riding up river to River Meadows County Park on Jordan Road. The paddlers in canoes and kayaks then proceed down stream back to Haller Park, where they hand the baton to the runners (a.k.a. puffers). The runners head east on Burke Street to Twin Rivers Park and back to Haller Park.
Pancakes are served until the batter runs out. Don’t wait too long.
Following the race, the Arlington Kiwanis Auction offers all kinds of great stuff, including a brand new Baja Motorsports Dirt Runner, from an anonymous donor, Mariner tickets for four in the Terrace Club, lunch with the mayor, and even a septic tank pumping to raise money for scholarships, starting at noon in Haller Park.
After a lull, when the line-up of the parade begins at 2:30 p.m., there will be an ice creaming eating contest at 4 p.m. at The Local Scoop, while waiting for the Grand Parade at 5 p.m.
This is also the perfect time to claim your spot with chairs or blankets on the sidewalk along the parade route down the sparkling new North Olympic Avenue. The parade is presented by Cascade Valley Hospital employees with lots of volunteer judges to select award recipients in various categories.
After the parade is over, return to Haller Park to hear Becky Foster and the A-Band play some lively tunes while waiting for the Great Stilly Duck Dash, presented by the Rotary Club of Arlington at 7:30 p.m.
A local business woman who is active with the Arlington-Smokey Point Chamber of Commerce, Becky Foster will be joined by her band, including Fred Zeufeldt on drums, Herb Hamilton on sax and keyboard, Greg Beck on guitar and bassist James Kenfield, to play some lively dance tunes in the park.
“We’ll swing to Becky Foster’s great vocals, with five decades of pop, rock-n-roll and rhythm and blues classic hits,” said their leader, Fred Zeufeldt.
“This band has a reputation of being hot players with strong vocals who love to get the crowd jumping,” he added.
Duck Dash tickets are $5 each or 5 for $20 and will be available from Rotarians wearing funny duck hats and other duck paraphernalia around town before the Fourth and in force throughout the day on the Fourth of July itself.
First prize is $5,000 with a chance to win a million dollars, if the winning duck has the preselected number. There are also second through 10th prizes.
The day full of fun concludes at dusk with fireworks at the Arlington Boys & Girls Club, courtesy the city of Arlington and the Arlington-Smokey Point Chamber of Commerce.
The street fair is not until next week, July 11, 12 and 13, contrary to information published in the Arlington Festival special section published June 25 by The Arlington Times.
