Celebrate the 4th at the community block party in street near the Elks and Courthouse

 

Tomorrow is the 4^th of July.

Great forecast. Check.

Coast Guard Helo flyover.  Check.

Parade with 40 or so entrants. Check.

What more could you ask for a Kodiak 4^th of July celebration?

Oh, how about food? Plenty of that–and all day long. As well as family fun, kids’ games, oh…and a patriotic singing group to boot!

This is the third annual community Street Celebration, which is hosted by the American Legion Post 17. Food and fun events take place in the street near the Elks Building and the courthouse. That means that portion of Marine Way will be closed all day—from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.

 

 

Jamie Week is the organizer of this year’s event. He says all activities are free because food and other items are donated by local businesses.

As for the parade, he says you can think about it overnight and sign up on the fly tomorrow. Just show up in time to sign a consent form.

 

“They just kind of show up. We usually have around 45 to 50 entrants that go. I think this year it’s down a little bit. So we’ll probably have in the 40s range of different entrants. We’ll have the Girl Scouts passing out flags, and people tossing candy and things like that. So it’s a pretty fun. And it’s going to be some beautiful weather, which is really nice for here.”

 

The Street Celebration, begins after the parade.

 

“We cook hamburgers and hotdogs, and potato salad. And we have drinks. And then after that, there will be a bounce house from Grand Slam Toys. Face painting. And there will be a sawdust pile which will have around $600 to $700 worth of coins to be in the sawdust pile. And then the entertainment is DJ Marc, and he has games for the kids and he spins music. And then after that, about 4:00, 4:30 the Bombshell Girls will go on and they sing patriotic songs.”

 

If you are frustrated with the hot dry weather which prompted the fireworks ban, why not release some of that your pent up energy by throwing balls at the Dunk Tank.

 

“It’s going to be a full day. It’s very family oriented. It’s all for the kids. And then we’re also going have a Dunk Tank and what we do with that is we get a little friendly competitions going. Like the SAL, which is Sons of the American Legion, will challenge the Auxiliary, which is the women’s side of the American Legion and see who can raise more money for children and youth programs in Kodiak. So far the women have got the guys beat. Laugh.”

 

Finally, the Kodiak Police Department reminds everyone that the portion of Rezanof Drive from the stoplight at Marine Way to Center Avenue will be closed to traffic during the parade, which lasts about an hour beginning at 11:00.

Drivers will not be able to leave or enter town, so make plans accordingly.