The Nilson family and hundreds of other spectators watch as fireworks light up the night sky at the Buffalo Peak Golf Course in Union July 4, 2021.

EASTERN OREGON — The tradition of fireworks for the Fourth of July is strong across our communities, and many towns throw an old-fashioned celebration for the holiday, too.

Here’s a look at weekend events around Eastern Oregon.

Baker City

The annual Kids Sidewalk Tribute Walk, sponsored by Baker City Events, happens Saturday, July 2, in downtown Baker City. The theme is “Salute to Rural Country Life in America.”

Entries can line up for judging at 1 p.m. at Court Plaza, followed by the walk to Geiser-Pollman Park. Every child will receive a ribbon, and cash prizes will be awarded in the categories of: Groups and Clubs; Floats; Individuals; Wheels and Pets.

At the park, treats will be provided by Gregg Hinrichsen State Farm Insurance and games organized by the Baker Elks Lodge.

Boardman

Get ready to celebrate Independence Day from early morning into the night. Organized by the Boardman Chamber of Commerce, the celebration gets started at 7 a.m. with a country breakfast at Boardman Marina Park. After getting your fill, put on your running shoes for a 5K/10K fun run/walk at 8:30 a.m.

The parade gets rolling at 11 a.m. in downtown Boardman. And then, head back to the park for a full afternoon of festivities. Bring your cooler and enjoy tunes with DJ Kora. Park activities include horseshoes, pony rides, face painting, kids’ games and a chili cook-off. Also, vendor and artisan booths will offer a variety of wares, food and drinks.

Live music cranks up with Blue Mt. Spanish Sound (3-5 p.m.) and Chris Loid and Green Light Polly (6-9 p.m.). The celebration crescendos with $30,000 worth of fireworks illuminating the sky over the Columbia River.

For more information, call 541-481-3014 or search www.facebook.com/ChamberBoardman.

Dayville

This town has three days of celebration leading up to the Fourth of July. On Saturday, July 2, the community hall will be open from 11 a.m.-2 p.m., and tri-tip will be served from 4-7 p.m. at the Fish House Inn, followed by karaoke from 6-9 p.m.

Sunday, July 3, starts with a service at Community Church at 11 a.m. Goat roping starts at 1 p.m. at Letosky’s Corral, and the day ends at the Fish House Inn with hamburgers and hot dogs from 4-6 p.m. and music by Red-Headed Step Child from 5-9 p.m.

July 4 starts with breakfast at Community Church from 7:30-9 a.m., then registration for the car show at 9 a.m. at City Hall. Parade lineup and judging is 9:30 a.m., and the parade starts at 10:30 a.m. Grand marshals are Greg and Deanne VanTassel.

Following the parade, enjoy Jakeburgers and the Jake Streeter Memorial Classic Car Show in the park, a baked goods auction at 11:30 a.m., a jackpot horseshoe tournament at 11:45 a.m. and goat roping at 1 p.m. at Letosky’s Corral. For updates and other festival contests, check “Friends of Dayville” on Facebook.

Haines

This small town celebrates with two days of rodeo action and activities all day on the Fourth of July.

The Haines Stampede starts on Sunday, July 3, with slack at 9 a.m. and the rodeo at 5 p.m. The rodeo picks up again at 1:30 p.m. July 4. Admission is $10 adults, $5 for ages 5-12.

July 4 activities in Haines include the Independence Day fun run (register at 7 a.m.; event starts at 8 a.m.; cost is $25), Cowboy Breakfast from 7-10 a.m., parade at 10 a.m., vendors in the park from 9 a.m.-5 p.m., and fireworks at dusk.

Halfway

July 4 events in Halfway start at 5 p.m. with parade lineup at Halfway Elementary School, followed by the Independence Day parade at 6 p.m.

A concession stand and beer garden open at 6:30 p.m. at the fairgrounds, and The Wasteland Kings start playing at 6:30 p.m. The annual pie auction starts at 7:30 p.m.

Fireworks begin at dusk. This holiday celebration is sponsored by the Pine Valley Fair Association, Hells Canyon Chamber of Commerce and Pine Valley Rural Fire Protection District.

Hermiston

The Independence Day weekend fireworks show at Butte Park, 1245 NW Seventh St., will take place on Sunday, July 3 at 10 p.m. (This was originally scheduled for July 4, but the licensed pyrotechnician was no longer available.)

The show will last approximately 20 minutes, slightly shorter than previous years.

“The Hermiston community has some amazing Fourth of July traditions, and the fireworks show at the Butte has become a highlight so many people look forward to,” said Hermiston Parks & Recreation Director Brandon Artz. “We’re glad that the show will go on this year and hope that everyone in the community can join us to kick off the holiday on the evening of July 3 and come back for more events on the Fourth. It’s a great chance to extend the celebration.”

On Monday, July 4, the Fourth of July celebration at Butte Park is 3-8 p.m. and includes vendors, games and other activities. The Hermiston Family Aquatic Center, 879 W. Elm Ave., will be open until 8 p.m. for the holiday.

Imbler

The traditional Fourth of July parade in Imbler will traverse down Ruckman Avenue (also Highway 82) beginning at noon. Anyone who would like to be in the parade should call 541-534-6095.

Immediately following the parade, all are invited to the Imbler Christian Church, 440 Ruckman Ave., for a free picnic. Enjoy free hot dogs, watermelon, chips, ice cream and soda in the shade.

Ione

The Ione Fourth of July Celebration will blast off with the fireman’s breakfast (7-10 a.m., fire hall). The rest of the day’s activities take place in/around Ione City Park, including a 5K fun run/walk (7:30 a.m.), kids’ games and food/vendor booths (11 a.m.), parade (1 p.m.) and free swimming (after the parade).

Also, the Fourth of July Cruz-In Car Show begins with registration at 11 a.m. To pre-register and for specifics about the 10 a.m. Cruz-In before the show, contact Loyal Burns at 541-422-7512 or burnsione@hotmail.com.

Live music cranks up in the afternoon with Bag of Hammers (2 p.m.) and the Cory Peterson Band (3 p.m.) and a talent show (4 p.m. register, 4:30 p.m. start). Featured entertainment in the evening is James Dean Kindle (6:30 p.m.), followed by Blue Tattoo (8:30 p.m.). Fireworks (weather permitting) are at dusk. For additional details, visit www.facebook.com/Ione4thOfJuly.

Pendleton

While past years have mostly consisted of an Independence Day parade and most often a fireworks show, Pendleton is rolling out a community celebration this year. The town will blast into the holiday a day early with the fireworks show on Sunday, July 3. They will shoot off from the parking lot west of Walmart, 2203 SW Court Ave.

On the Fourth of July, the Pendleton High School track team will dress up and enjoy a fun run at 9 a.m. on the Independence Day Parade route.

The parade, with a theme of “Freedom,” is hosted by Veterans of Foreign Wars “Let ‘Er Buck” Post 922.

Starting at 10 a.m. at Pendleton City Hall, 500 SW Dorion Ave., the parade will travel to Main Street, then onto Court Avenue to the Pendleton Convention Center. All entries will receive a ribbon and trophies will be awarded in 14 categories. Mike Hagan, honored for his 41-year career in the Oregon Army National Guard, is the grand marshal. If you have questions, contact Fred Bradbury at fbradbury@yahoo.com or 541-377-7474.

After the parade, head to Roy Raley Park, 1205 SW Court Ave., for a full afternoon of family fun. Games and activities will include spike ball, giant Jenga, a cornhole tournament (1-4 p.m.), face painting, prizes for various races (three-legged, spoon egg and relay), Hula Hoops and Hook a Book with Altrusa International of Pendleton.

Music by DJ Anson Crane will fill the air from noon to 5 p.m. A kids’ bike/scooter parade (1 p.m.) features prizes for patriotic themes and a dunk tank (2-4 p.m.) will offer a reprieve from the heat. In addition, food and beverages will be available for purchase.

For more about the celebration in the park, visit www.pendleton.or.us or contact Donna Biggerstaff at 541-966-0220 or donna.biggerstaff@ci.pendleton.or.us.

Prairie City

Celebrate “Fourth of July on the Prairie” with a day of activities on July 4 in Prairie City. A 5K fun run starts at 7 a.m. at Depot Park, and a pancake breakfast is served from 7-10 a.m. at the Prairie Baptist Teen Center.

Vendors will be on Front Street from 10 a.m.-3 p.m., and cow pie bingo starts at 1 p.m. at the high school (purchase tickets from FFA students during the parade or the FFA food booth for $25 per square). A flag folding ceremony at the park is set for 11:30 a.m., and the parade starts at noon.

From 12:30-3 p.m., enjoy barbecue and activities in the park. Prairie City youth will present a play at 2 p.m. at the community center ($1 suggested donation).

Stanfield

The annual Steak Feed Fundraiser, which helps support the holiday celebration, is Sunday, July 3, 6-8 p.m. at Bard Park. In addition to dinner, the event features live music by Hired Guns. Tickets are $25/adults and $10/kids (for a hamburger meal). They are available at Main Street Market, the Stanfield Public Library or the city of Stanfield.

Bard Park is the hub for the 2022 Stanfield Fourth of July Celebration. Activities get a sizzling start with the Firefighters Breakfast from 7-10 a.m. Also, a 5K fun run and 3-on-3 basketball tourney begins at 8 a.m. And the downtown parade gets rolling at 10 a.m. (line up at 8 a.m., judging is at 9 a.m.).

The pie-baking contest heats up at 11 a.m. and the duck race is at 1 p.m. Other park activities run from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Then, be sure to stake out a spot at dusk for the fireworks show.

For more information, search www.facebook.com/Stanfield4thofJuly or call 541-449-3831.

Union

Union is now the place to be on the Fourth of July in Union County. The main draw is the “Thunder at the Peaks” fireworks, shot off from the Buffalo Peak Golf Course at dusk.

Leading up to the light show, the town hosts vendors and an antique car display on Main Street from 5-9 p.m. and a bank robbery reenactment at 5 p.m. Also, the Union County Museum, 331 S. Main St., will be open from noon-6 p.m.

Wallowa County

The Independence Day celebrations begin in Wallowa with a parade at 11 a.m. Food and drink vendors will be outside the Wallowa Fire Hall on Pine Street. Ruby Frazier will serve as grand marshal of the parade; Greta Kennedy and Dylan Wortman are Little Miss Fourth of July and Little Mister Liberty. Seating will be available inside the Fire Hall for people to eat and enjoy the music of Terry and Gary Moffit.

Booth space for food, drinks and crafts are available for free for the Wallowa festivities. Vendors are welcome to set up starting at 9 a.m. For more information, call Wallowa City Hall at 541-886-2422.

The time-honored tradition of fireworks over Wallowa Lake continues as local organizations and businesses across the county raise money to “Shake the Lake” on Independence Day. The sponsors — Wallowa County Chamber of Commerce, Joseph Chamber and Stubborn Mule — are raising $25,000 for the show and an account has been set up for donations at the Wallowa County Chamber. Visit www.wallowacountychamber.com for more information and how to make a contribution.