Clark County Fire & Rescue shows off one of its fire trucks in the 2017 Ridgefield 4th of July Parade.
Riders take their horses out for a ride during the 2017 Ridgefield 4th of July Parade.
The Ridgefield 4th of July Committee is getting ready for its annual celebration in downtown Ridgefield this July 4. Festivities begin on July 3 at 5 p.m. with a street dance outside Hooküm Brewing Co., 120 N 3rd Ave, Ridgefield.
The theme for the parade and festivities this year is “Land of the Free, Home of the Spudder.”
Sandy Schill of the Ridgefield 4th of July Committee said this theme was chosen nearly unanimously because of its ability to recognize the growth of the community as well as the hometown roots of Ridgefield.
“One of those things (in Ridgefield history) is our potato farming land,” she said.
July 4 festivities begin at 8 a.m. with the 5K, 10K and children’s Fun Runs at Pioneer and Main. According to Schill, the yearly pancake breakfast that usually starts off the celebrations is postponed until next year due to the loss of the community center where it is normally held and the inability to secure a new location in time.
At 10:15 a.m., catch the pet and kid pre-parade on the corner of Pioneer and Main as kids and pets participate in a shorter parade. Following the pre-parade is the 11 a.m. parade, a staple of the Ridgefield 4th of July Celebration.
According to Schill, the Grand Marshal of this year’s parade is the Bartel family of Ridgefield, who donated a large portion of their land to the city to build the Ridgefield Outdoor Recreation Complex (RORC). The Bartels all graduated from Ridgefield High School and worked in the community as fire chiefs, physical therapists and other occupations. “We thought we’d bring it home a little bit with the ‘Home of the Spudders,’” Schill said. “That’s why we chose the Bartel family, not only are we celebrating the people who go to school (in Ridgefield) but we’re celebrating the history itself.”
From 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., festival-goers can experience the Downtown Festival at the Refuge Overlook Park with entertainment by Tony Starlight and High Fidelity as well as food vendors and kid’s activities. At 2 p.m., those with a sweet tooth can catch the free youth pie eating contest.
New to this year is a baseball game between the United States Military All-Stars and Showtime College Prep at the RORC. The game starts at 6 p.m. and tickets are $10 at the gate.
As for the fireworks show, Schill said that the committee has been asked to not hold a fireworks show at the marina this year due to the all-county show at the Clark County Fairgrounds and Vancouver Barracks.
“I do hope our fireworks come back next year,” Schill said. “I think the citizens of Ridgefield will like to have their small fireworks show.”
