Family Friendly 4th of July Events and Fireworks Displays Tacoma Auburn Puyallup Renton Kent Steilacoom and Beyond
Here’s our 2018 round up of family friendly places to take the kids to see fireworks or enjoy other old-fashioned fun on the 4th of July around here. Most big South Sound celebrations include fun and free things to do with the kids during the day on the 4th as well as fireworks shows if you’re going to stay up that late. If you appreciate this guide, we would LOVE it if you shared it.
We have provided links so you can double check details. You can expect crowds and traffic at all these events, so plan accordingly!
Family Fourth at the Fort, Fort Dent Park, Tukwila
This is an all day event, the park opens to the public at 9am and event activities go from 4pm to 10pm! Lots of fun for the family including bouncy houses, slides, and entertainment. Parking is limited so be sure to get there early!
Renton’s Fabulous Fourth, Gene Coulon Memorial Beach Park
Renton’s largest one-day event provides an array of entertaining options for everyone; a co-ed volleyball tournament, the ActivityZone for kids, live entertainment, and lounging about with friends and family. A 25-minute firework display over Lake Washington will conclude the day’s events at 10 p.m.
4th of July Splash: Lake Meridian Park
Enjoy a variety of games, family activities and art projects from 12pm-5pm. Fireworks finale over Lake Meridian at 10PM. Be sure to read parking and shuttle instructions. If you haven’t been to Lake Meridian before, check out our full review of this awesome park. Do see our note below.
**Lake Meridian’s newly remodeled bathrooms and lifeguard building were damaged in a fire on the evening of June 27. The Fourth of July Splash will go on as scheduled. Note from SFM: While the 4th of July event is going on, we have heard that lifeguards were not on duty due to this damage to their building. You may want to check on this if you’re planning on letting the kids swim.
Fireworks over Des Moines
All day the Fishing Pier will be closed for public use and at 5pm the food trucks open for business. The fireworks begin at 10:20pm! Please sure to check out the list of no’s for the festival.
4th of July Festival, Auburn, Les Gove Park
11:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Les Gove Park, 910 Ninth Street SE
FREE (purchase wristband for $5 unlimited activities)
Celebrate our country’s birthday at Les Gove Park. The event includes a noon bike parade (meet East of the Bocce Courts), various entertainment on two stages, an arts & craft area with over 50 artists,a car show, 17 inflatable rides, a rock wall, euro-bungy trampolines, train rides and other fun activities for children. The event also offers bingo, mini golf, bocce, a book sale, food concessions, and so much more! Come see for yourself, this naturally shaded park and spray park will keep you cool during the afternoon.
Wristband sales begin at 10:00 AM. You can purchase a wristband for $5 for unlimited activities which include 17 inflatable rides, tubs o’ fun, bungy trampolines, rock wall, train rides, mini golf, two pony carousels, R.C. Truck Racing and balloon art. Leashed, licensed and well-behaved pets welcome.
Red, White, and Blues Festival, Federal Way
Fireworks, food and star-studded entertainment are on tap for Federal Way’s Fourth of July Red, White and Blues Festival. Free and open to the public, the event starts at 4 pm, July 4 at Celebration Park, 1095 South 324th St. and concludes with a spectacular fireworks show that begins at 10:15 pm.
4th of July Parade, Enumclaw
Join us for the annual Stars & Stripes 4th of July Parade downtown Cole Street!
Bring the family out for this community tradition. Kids can decorate their trikes/bikes and join in as well! Those interested can find a entry form on our website (www.enumclawchamber.com) under Chamber Events. All entries will be e-mailed with staging information before the Parade. I do see fireworks on the city calendar, but no details. To the best of my knowledge they are not happening, but I am working on confirming that.
Puyallup
New! Fireworks and fun in Puyallup!
Come Spend the 4th of July in Puyallup!! The Puyallup/Sumner Chamber of Commerce and Crash Bang Booom Productions are bringing you a FREE concert on the Rotary Stage in Pioneer Park featuring Sony artist Leah Justine / Girls Love Rockets / The Chris Jones Band and Puyallup’s own Limberlost!! There will also be vendors, food, things for the kids, Car Show, Poker Run and Beer Garden!! Music starts at 5pm and ends at 10pm. Shortly after there will be a Fireworks Show!! See you there!!!
Meeker Mansion, Puyallup
Come out and celebrate America on July 4th as we perform some of our country’s greatest tunes. On July 4th from 2 to 5 pm, enjoy the Meeker Mansion Family Social & Puyallup Community Band Concert. On the mansion lawn, enjoy a display of Mini Cooper cars, family games start at 2 pm, and the Puyallup Community Band begins playing a free holiday concert at 3 pm. Relax on your lawn chair or blanket while celebrating a good old fashioned 4th of July. For a nominal fee, purchase hot dogs, soft drinks, and strawberry treats from our snack shack. Meeker Mansion, 312 Spring Street, Puyallup, WA 98372—Please call for more information: 253-848-1770
Tacoma’s Freedom Fair
A multi day event with an air and car show on June 30th and July 1st at the Narrows airport, followed by a day of fun at the Freedom Fair on July 4th that ends in a big fireworks display.
July 4th activities take place on Ruston way
Spend the day at Ruston Way for Freedom Fair, featuring 4th of July activities, airshows, great food, vendors, exhibits, rides, and events. Northwest’s biggest firework show over Puget Sound at 10:00 pm.
Point Ruston 5K and Kids 1K
A fast and family friendly downhill 5K and 1K for the kids. Enjoy this downhill course starting at Vassault Park and finishing at the beautiful Point Ruston. All finishers receive a medal and free downloadable race photos
JBLM Freedom Fest
Freedom Fest offers entertainment for the whole family! This event is split into two days. The first day is July 3, 1pm-8pm and is only open to DOD ID Cardholders and their sponsored guests. The second day is July 4, 11am-fireworks and is open to the public!
DuPont July 4th: A Hometown Celebration
Pancake breakfast, parade, kids’ activities and more! Fireworks begin at dusk at Patriots’ Landing. More on the event fb page.
City of Lacey
Lacey does a super fun, family friendly event, but it’s on the 3rd at Rainier Vista Park. Live music, food vendors, and an evening fireworks display. Pack a picnic and bring your frisbee!
Independence Day in Steilacoom
Parade, vendors, and a fireworks display. A full day of community fun! More event details here. or here
Eatonville Fireworks + Parade
July 3, Fireworks display
July 4, Parade at noon
This is a fun event for the whole family. The festivities on the 3rd will kick-off at 5pm at the Eatonville Elementary School with food and vendors followed by a variety of entertainment starting at 6pm. Bouncy big toys will be there for the kids and a great fireworks display starting at dusk. The 4th of July Parade starts at noon. There is a family style picnic following the parade, hosted by the Eagles and open to the public. There will be games and food and beverages for sale.
Independence Day Parade, Tumwater
City of Tumwater hosts its annual parade beginning at 11am! The pre-parade activities begin at 10:45am. Later that night after the parade the Thunder Valley Fireworks show kicks off! The event gates open at 6:00pm and the fireworks show begins at 10:15pm. The event is free, but parking is $10/car.
Gig Harbor
No organized displays that I know about, but (pro tip from someone who grew up there…..) try to get yourself invited to a party overlooking a smallish bay or other body of water, and you should have a really good show!
4th of July Sinclair Inlet Fireworks Show, Port Orchard/Bremerton
Drawing crowds of 60,000 or more, the show is visible to Bremerton, the Naval Shipyard, and Port Orchard areas. Show begins at 10:30pm.
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So many options! Which one will you and your family choose? Whatever you do, stay safe and have fun celebrating freedom!
If you know of a fun option we missed, let us know!
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We’re big fans of Auburn festival. We drive past 3-4 festivals to get to that one but it is worth the drive because it is so big without being overcrowded. Tons of fun and lots to do. Not a lot of food options, though. I’m packing a lunch this year.