Happy Birthday America! You are invited to a 4th of July celebration: San Juan Islands style. We have been waiting for months to celebrate! It’s almost here, 10 days to be exact. This is perfect because there is no better time than now, to come to the San Juan Islands. This is a special time to spend with family, friends, all while celebrating the birth of our country. So come join us for a few days filled with tradition, joy and pure festivity. This is San Juan Island’s busiest weekend of the summer, so you’d better get your plans finalized immediately to ensure a place to stay! The Harrison House Suites and Tucker House Inn have a few units remaining, but not for long.
Friday Harbor will be decked out with a record amount of bunting. Local businesses have purchased more red, white and blue fabric to adorn railings, decks and awnings. The Friday Harbor community band is reinforcing its membership. You may see and hear them practicing in the back alleys of town. Blue Thunder, the Sea Hawks drum line will provide a rhythmic heartbeat to Friday Harbor’s parade. Be sure to grab a front row seat along the parade route so you can wave your wooden flag proudly and get your share of the candy thrown by the floats.
The three main islands (Lopez, Orcas and our home San Juan Island) all have a unique, small town traditions planned for this year’s 4th of July holiday.
San Juan Island, where the Tucker House Inn & Harrison House Suites are located, has two different venues that are celebrating. Friday Harbor begins its festivities with a parade at 10:30 am with the theme of “America the Beautiful… 100 years of National Parks.” Following the parade, there’s a ‘Pig-War picnic’, live music, dancing and fireworks! At the ‘Pig- War picnic’ there will be music, a pie-eating contest, a cakewalk, kid’s games and a delicious barbecue! We here at the Tucker House Inn and Harrison House Suites cannot wait to sink our teeth into all of the tasty picnic options.
On the north side of San Juan Island, Roche Harbor, has its own activities planned for a fun-filled 4th of July. There’s a Family 3.3K Fun Run, log-rolling contest, blind-folded dinghy race, doughnut eating contest, children’s games, live music, a special colors ceremony and of course fireworks. Events begin at 12:30 pm. So you’d better not be late!
Orcas Island will ring in America’s Birthday starting on Saturday, July 2nd with a Historical Days Celebration: a full weekend of excitement! The annual parade, Fun Run/Walk, Pancake Breakfast and Pie Booth will take place on Sunday the 3rd. Deer Harbor will have its own fireworks display on the 3rd! And to end the weekend celebration the East Sound Fireworks display will begin at 9 pm, Monday evening.
Lopez Island also has numerous events planned to celebrate the 4th of July! There will be a Lion’s Club Fun/Run Walk, a parade, a used book sale, and the day will end with fireworks! (Don’t forget to register for the race between 7 am – 8 am.) This will be the 30th year of fireworks for Lopez Island. This milestone year means milestone fireworks! The fireworks will start at 10:30 pm. There’s a friendly island rivalry as to which island has the best fireworks. Lopez usually comes out on top, but Friday Harbor is going to offer Lopez a run for the distinction. San Juan Island commissioned the same pyrotechnic company for Friday Harbor’s fireworks show that Lopez has used over the years.
Each island is offering free admission to most 4th of July events. No matter where you go, you’ll have a wonderful holiday.
The San Juan Islands are the perfect getaway to enjoy a simpler way of life and a small town community celebration for the 4th of July.
Staying at the Tucker House Inn or Harrison House Suites, puts you in central location for all the fun in Friday Harbor. The Inns are located a block from the ferry dock and the parade route. Washington State ferry is running on the Summer Sailing Schedule. If you are planning on a longer stay, we are happy to suggest other non-4th related activities to keep you busy during your visit – consider whale watching, kayaking, hiking and cycling. We hope to see you here during all of the fun. This is a special time of year that you don’t want to miss!
