THE DALLES — One of the biggest, and safest, Fourth of July fireworks shows in the Northwest celebrates its tenth anniversary this year.
“We’ve got one the biggest fireworks displays west of the Mississippi,” Marty Hiser said. Hiser has been on the Fort Dalles Fourth committee for nine years — only a year longer than the other eight members, led by Matt Herriges, who organize Fourth of July together each year.
“I know there’s a lot of mixed feelings about fireworks and the noise and things like that. And we do acknowledge it,” she added. “I hope that people that are not fans of fireworks, take all the necessary precautions to keep themselves safe mentally, and to secure your animals and keep them safe as well. Nobody wants anybody to get hurt, or anything like that. We just want to celebrate.”
The show is fired from a barge on the Columbia, packed with sand to reduce fire risk, and the only people on board are the pyrotechnicians. The fallout zone is over water. It’s safe enough to shoot off some of the biggest rockets from Western Fireworks Display, 100-year-old family-owned Oregon business that’s provided all ten year’s shows. Since Covid-19, all their fireworks are manufactured within the U.S. The barge is always donated by Bernert Barge Lines.
A crowd watches fireworks in The Dalles.
Flora Gibson photo and CGN file photo
“We do ask people on the water to stay clear of the barge,” Hiser said. “We’ve had, in the past, a few people get a little too close. And that’s not very safe.”
The Dalles’ show costs about $50,000 per year. Fireworks for 2024 are already purchased, and year-long fundraising underway for the 2025 firework show.
City of The Dalles provides about $25,000 annually from their transient tax budget, a fund to promote tourism.
The fireworks fundraiser includes Hometown USA Days, when people can pay for a veteran recognition banner to be placed on a light-pole downtown — Hiser’s favorite part of the July celebrations. Banners show the veteran’s name, rank, military branch and photo; cost for one is $199. A legacy banner can be renewed for $99. A lower-cost option is a $76 laminated placard.
Fundraising is year-round, garnering donations and volunteer hours from businesses and nonprofits.
The show starts at 10 p.m. and lasts 18 to 22 minutes, set to music on Bicoastal Media’s radio station. Good viewing spots are Lewis and Clark Festival Park, Sorosis Park and down by the river’s edge, Hiser said.
Traffic can get “pretty hairy” at show’s end. “But you know, practice patience, and enjoy the show, and God bless America,” she said.
HOOD RIVER — After shifting to New Year’s Eve in 2021 for Covid-19, and again in 2023 for the Tunnel 5 Fire, Hood River’s firework show is back with a new organizing nonprofit.
With a fundraising team of about three, Brett Stomps heads the new 501c3 nonprofit organizes Hood River’s community-funded fireworks show.
Stomps, said donations are down but the show’s still on for July Fourth this year.
Hood River Fireworks LLC, took over the event in 2022 from the Eye Opener Lions Club, organizers of the event since 1979. One of the group’s youngest members, Stomp’s been helping out since the age of about 13.
Volunteers handle storing, prepping, and firing off the fireworks they purchase. Eleven permits, and on average, 370 fireworks shells are needed. The crew takes them down to Hood River Spit, organizes the shells according to a design sheet, load them up, and bury smaller shells in boxes of sand. They prep and wire the fuses, install fuse boxes, connect everything up with a control panel, and finally fire them off at 10 p.m.
The spit is completely surrounded by water, and the fire department douses the spit beforehand. “There’s almost no better place to do it,” Stomps said. During his time organizing the show, there’s never been a fire.
Stomps emphasized that the spit itself is off-limits for safety reasons, and if anyone goes there, the show must be stopped until they leave.
With donations dropping and the cost of fireworks increasing, Stomps said he buys smaller fireworks, in order to get enough to meet the 20-minute show length, “depending on how trigger-happy I get.” So the display has been “shrinking” recently, he said.
Preparations for Hood River’s firework show, with shells loaded and ready to fire, at a previous Fourth of July event.
Contributed photo
The show costs about $20,000 to $25,000 on average, funded by donations of any size from private individuals, businesses and nonprofits, with no contribution from the city. Fundraising takes place a year in advance, and donations are also below target this year so far, Stomps said.
Good places to view the 10 p.m. show include Hood River Event Site, the marina, and “anywhere you can see the spit,” including the White Salmon bluff. Hood River has limited free parking, however.
Above, a 2023 firework show gets fired off by volunteers on the Hood River Spit on New Years Eve 2023.
Contributed photo
Fourth of July events in the Gorge, 2024
Stevenson
Fireworks, dusk — Live music and fireworks at dusk at Skamania County Fairgrounds, 710 SW Rock Creek Road.
North Bonneville
Parade, 11 a.m. — Parade circles North Bonneville City Park, East Cascade Drive and Garrison.
Carson
Ice cream social, 2 p.m. — socialize with friends and neighbors in the fields next to Skamania County PUD.
White Salmon
Parade 1 p.m. — Community parade from, Grandview along Jewett to Rheingarten Park. Prizes awarded for parade decorations: bring wagons, scooters, strollers. Floats, dogs, horses. Check in at Tohomish at Spokes Bike Park, north of the ballfields, by 2 p.m. for judging.
Road closures, 1:45 p.m. — State Route 141 will be closed during the parade. O’Keefe Street will be a one-way eastbound road during parade check-in.
Rheingarten Park, 2 p.m. — 204 Army Bands.
Bingen
Bingen Point, 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. — Locals are invited to safely discharge fireworks at Bingen Point. Note that it’s possible to legally purchase certain fireworks on federal or tribal lands which are in violation of Washington law, and which will be confiscated at this event. Minors must be accompanied by an adult. No pets, alcohol, drugs, weapons, or fan-cake type firework. Hotdogs for sale starting 6:30 p.m., by the Bingen Fire Department.
Fourth of July, The Dalles.
Mark Gibson file photo
The Dalles
Rocket Run, 1 a.m. — A run along Riverfront Trail, choose your distance. Starts at Bargeway Pub, registration required at 6:30 a.m. Run starts 7 a.m. Fees $10 youth, $20 adults, $10 for optional T-shirt. Pets welcome. Participants under 13 must be accompanied by adult.
Free breakfast, 8 a.m. — Bargeway Pub & Catering. Food provided by McDonald’s of the Gorge.
Yoga, 9 a.m. — Bargeway Pub & Catering. Free; preregistration required at www.pureyogathedalles.com or by calling 541-490-2437.
Concert, 11 a.m. — Gorge Winds Concert Band Fourth of July Concert, The Dalles City Park, 707 Union Street. John Phillip Sousa marches, movie and Broadway music, classical composers.
Block party, 12 p.m. — Second and Monroe.
Cornhole Tournament, 1 p.m. — At Smoke Wring BBQ, $40 to enter. Cash prize for First, Second and Third Place. Bring your own board, up to tournament standards. Ten slots available.
Firework show, 10 p.m. — Good views from Lewis and Clark Festival Park, Sorosis Park, and Bargeway Pub. Boats, drones and swimmers to stay out of the fallout zone, including Columbia River docks.
A crowd watches the show over First Street in The Dalles.
Chelsea Marr photo
Hood River
Community parade, 10 a.m. — Starts at Pacific Avenue and Twelfth Street, ends at Hood River Aquatic Center. To participate, line up on Eliot Drive to register your float with Hood River Lions Club at 8 a.m. Fees are $10 per vehicle, $15 for a group or business.
Firework show, 10 p.m. — Fireworks will last for about 15-20 minutes. Spectators can view the show at the Hood River Event Site. Hood River Spit itself is off-limits for safety reasons. Admission free, but area parking fees set by Port of Hood River.
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