BOOM: Moses Lake ready to get patriotic for July 4

MOSES LAKE — The nation’s birthday will be celebrated with the sounds of the 133D Army National Guard Band and a fireworks display over Moses Lake on July 3. “Red, White and Boom!” also will feature food vendors and the Moses Lake Recreation Department’s mobile recreation van in the park Wednesday evening.

The 7 p.m. concert is free; the fireworks follow at about 10 p.m. Events are in McCosh Park, 401 W. Fourth Ave.

The performance is part of the free summer concert series sponsored by the Moses Lake Creative District.

Doug Coutts, director of Moses Lake Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services, said 2024 is the second year the city has sponsored the fireworks show and music in the park. Typically the Independence Day celebration is the weekend prior to July 4, but Coutts told Moses Lake City Council members that with July 4 on a Thursday the timing was bad for either weekend.

City officials attempted to get a fireworks show for July 4, Coutts said.

“We did not get the fireworks on July 4 because the fireworks companies (are) booked up on July 4. We cannot get July 4,” he said.

Jenni Shelton, communications coordinator for the Moses Lake Museum & Art Center, said the 133D National Guard Band is actually three bands in one. “The General’s 7” will feature the traditional jazz sound from the early 20th Century, made famous by the musicians of New Orleans. As its name suggests, the “Brassquatch” band emphasizes the brass, infused with rock, pop and funk. “Full Metal Racket” focuses on classic rock, country and pop.

The mobile rec van tours Moses Lake parks to bring the games to the children. The van will be filled with board games, outdoor games and game balls.

The fireworks begin at dusk, around 10 p.m. Typically the fireworks display is launched from the shore, but 2024 will be different.

“We are actually going to have barges in the lake this year,” Coutts said. “We are loading them in McCosh Park, then they’ll be towed out into the lake, anchored down, and we’ll fire them from the lake itself,”

It’s a tradition for some to watch the fireworks from the water, and Coutts said people should take the launch point into account when they pick an observation spot.

Cheryl Schweizer can be reached via email at cschwezier@columbiabasinherald.com .

Independence Day celebrations

July 4

George

George Community Hall

403 W. Montmorency Blvd and other locations

Music, parade, cherry pie, fireworks

Othello

Lions Park

815 Pine St., and other locations

Parade, music, contests, children’s games, sports tournaments, fireworks

July 6

Suds ‘N Sun

Soap Lake

Main Avenue East and other locations

Parade, music, children’s games, sports tournaments, fireworks

NOTE: Fireworks will not be permitted in the park at Desert Aire this year per the homeowners association.