Fourth festivals beckon Clark County residents

o The Columbian is asking readers to email us your July 4 photos so we can put them online at http://columbian.com today. As readers are out and about on July 4 at neighborhood parades, barbecues, picnics and more, please email us your photos.

Also include the neighborhood/location of photo, description of the photo, first and last names of people in the photo and the photographer’s name and phone number. The phone number won’t be published. It’s for the editor in case he has questions about the photo.

o Please email photos and information to neighbors@columbian.com.

o Independence Day at Fort Vancouver

o Hours: Gates open at 8 a.m., close after the fireworks display.

o Events: Five entertainment zones with musical acts, games and demonstrations starting at noon; vendors open at noon; Fred Meyer’s Patriotic Parade starts at 4 p.m.; fireworks launch at 10:05 p.m.

o Admission: $7 at the gate, free for kids age 12 and younger. Prime viewing, $50 age 21 and older, $25 under age 21, free for children age 5 and younger.

o Transportation: C-Tran will run shuttles to the event every 15 minutes from the north side of the Westfield Vancouver Mall, 8700 N.E. Vancouver Mall Drive, from 6 to 8:30 p.m., with return service available after the fireworks show. Round trip costs $2. Paid parking will be available to the east and west of Fort Vancouver National Site. Downtown metered parking is free. Monitored bike parking offered at the event. For road closures in the area, see list on Page A4.

o Information: Event website.

July 4:

o Fort Vancouver Way from Mill Plain Boulevard to Fourth Plain Boulevard, including the median strip, will be a no-parking/tow-away zone.

All-day street closures

o Evergreen Boulevard closed from U Street west to I-5.

o Evergreen Boulevard at West Reserve Street.

o East Reserve Street south from Mill Plain Boulevard.

o Ninth Street at East Reserve Street.

o Eighth Street at T Street.

o Fifth and Sixth streets at U Street.

o Mill Plain Boulevard at Fort Vancouver Way (Fort Vancouver Way from Mill Plain south will be closed all day.)

Closures beginning at 6 p.m.

o Mill Plain Boulevard exit from I-5 northbound.

o Mill Plain Boulevard exit from I-5 southbound will be west only (right turn.)

o Mill Plain Boulevard between East Reserve and Fort Vancouver Way will be closed to all civilian traffic from 6 p.m. to midnight.

o Fort Vancouver Way south of McLoughlin Boulevard.

o Street closures beginning at 9 p.m.:

o Highway 14 at Grove Street-Columbia House Boulevard exit.

o Highway 14 at Columbia House Boulevard/Columbia Way exit.

Information: 360-992-1808 or Independence Day at Fort Vancouver.

Fireworks stands can operate in Clark County from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. through today.

Discharge hours are:

o Unincorporated areas:

Noon to 11 p.m. June 28, 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. June 29 through July 3, 9 a.m. to midnight July 4.

o Vancouver: 9 a.m to 11 p.m. July 1-3; 9 a.m. to midnight July 4.

o Battle Ground: 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. June 29 to July 3; 9 a.m. to midnight July 4; 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. July 5.

o Camas: 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. July 1-3; 9 a.m. to midnight July 4.

o Washougal: 9 a.m. to midnight July 4.

o Ridgefield: 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. June 29 to July 3; 9 to midnight July 4; 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. July 5.

o La Center: 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. June 29 to July 3; 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. July 4.

o Yacolt: 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. June 29 to July 3; 9 a.m. to midnight July 4.

For more information visit the state fire marshal’s website or the city of Vancouver’s.

Not all the aerial flash and boom on Independence Day will take place under the stars.

Two local communities are scheduled for flyovers this morning, July 4, by jet fighters from the Oregon Air National Guard.

F-15 Eagles from the 142nd Fighter Wing are scheduled to bring a streak of silver and some fast-moving thunder to Camas at 10:55 a.m. Camas does not have any special events listed at that time, according to the city events calendar.

Ridgefield does have an 11 a.m. parade as part of its extensive Fourth of July schedule, and the F-15 flyover is scheduled for 11:35 a.m.

The Clark County appearances are among 15 flyovers slated for the 142nd Fighter Wing, based in Portland.

All flyovers will be about 1,000 feet above ground level and at about 400 mph, according to Capt. Stephen Bomar, public affairs director for the Oregon Military Department.

Flights could be canceled or the schedules changed by inclement weather or operational contingencies, Bomar said.

Community celebrations

Felida Children’s Parade

• Hours: Parade, 10:45 to 11:45 a.m., followed by free picnic lunch, exhibits and games until 2:30 p.m.

• Location: Parade lineup will be at Felida Park at the Northwest 127th Street gate.

• Admission: Free.

Ridgefield 4th of July Celebration

• Hours: Activities start at 7 a.m. and close after the 10 p.m. fireworks display.

• Events: Pancake breakfast at Ridgefield Community Center, 210 N. Main Ave., 7-10 a.m.; fun runs at North Main Avenue and Simons Street starting at 8 a.m.; pet and kid pre-parade begins at 10 a.m. at the corner of Pioneer Street and Main Avenue; Fourth of July Parade starts at 11 a.m. at North Fourth Avenue and Division; chicken and salmon barbecue noon-3:30 p.m. at Abrams Park; Kids Day noon-6 p.m. at Refuge Overlook Park; Coaster Derby 2-4 p.m. at Fifth Avenue and Simon; street dance at South Main Avenue 6-10 p.m.; fireworks, 10 p.m. to close.

• Admission: Free, except for the fun runs, which are $20-$30 for the 10k, $15-$25 for the 5k.

• Information: http://ridgefield4th.com

Camas-Washougal Riverside Concert

• Hours: 6-11 p.m.

• Location: Port of Camas-Washougal Marina Park

• Events: Concerts by Justin Klump Band and Big Night Out, 6-11 p.m.; fireworks display from a barge on the Columbia River at 10 p.m., accompanied by patriotic music.

• Admission: Free.

• Information: http://portcw.com

Yacolt Rendezvous

• Hours: 10 a.m. to dusk.

• Events: Parade at Railroad Avenue at 10 a.m.; vendors and kid village from noon to 7 p.m. at the Little League Fields; lawn mower races at 3 p.m. at the Little League fields; fireworks at dusk.

• Admission: Free.

Information: http://bit.ly/MsQiBs.