Tickets are now available for the annual July 4 celebration at Fort Vancouver.
The 10:05 p.m. fireworks display is the high-profile event, launching to heights of up to 500 feet. But there also is a full day of family fun with music, games and entertainment at Independence Day at Fort Vancouver presented by Bank of America, its official name. It is produced by the nonprofit Fort Vancouver National Trust.
Gates open at 8 a.m. Entertainment kicks off at noon; the Vancouver Toyota Main Stage features a variety of local and regionally recognized entertainers.
General admission tickets are $5 in advance and $7 at the gate for those 13 and over; children 12 and younger are free. Tickets are available online at fortvan.org/fourth. Presales begin June 1 at Southwest Washington Fred Meyer stores.
Prime-viewing tickets, which include a picnic dinner, live entertainment and front-row seats to the fireworks show, are $60 for those 21 and over, $30 for those under 21, and free for 5 and younger.
Activities include guided walking tours of the Vancouver Barracks; tours of the historic Marshall House; games, races and activities at the Kids’ Zone; and heritage handcraft skills and traditional games at the Hands-on-History area.
Fort Vancouver National Historic Site attractions include Pearson Air Museum (free admission) and the reconstructed Fort Vancouver ($5 admission, and free for 15 and younger).
C-Tran will provide free shuttles every 15 minutes from the north side of the Vancouver Mall between 6 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. Return service will begin following the fireworks show.
Teen vocal finalists
Ten finalists have been chosen for the Sing Fourth Teen Vocal Competition.
The high-school students are: Samara Davis, Camas; Quintin Gaither, Hudson’s Bay; Sunday Manisto-Saari, Mountain View; Amanda Nicholson, Evergreen; Brittni Plummer, Union; Nicole Roller, Skyview; Amethyst Ackerman, Prairie; Hannah Toner, Mountain View; Sydney Valaer, Washougal; Shawni Van Vessem, Skyview.
The winner will receive a $1,000 college scholarship. Second prize is a $500 scholarship; third prize is a $250 scholarship.
Volunteers sought
The National Trust is seeking 300 volunteers to handle tickets, serve water or staff information booths, parking lots or the adult beverage pavilion. Apply at 4th.fortvan.org/volunteer.
Volunteers may request jobs and shifts, although organizers may not be able to accommodate all requests. Shifts are a few hours long. A training session is in June. Volunteers get free admission, a parking pass, T-shirt and water bottle.
For information on any aspect of the celebration, visit www.fortvan.org/fourth, email events@fortvan.org or call 360-992-1804.
