July Fourth kids’ parade set for Washougal

The city of Washougal will hold an Independence Day-themed kids’ parade at Hathaway Park from 10 a.m. to noon July 4 at Hathaway Park.

The free, no-registration-required parade will be open to virtually any non-motorized mode of transportation, including bicycles, scooters, wagons, strollers and wheelchairs, according to Rose Jewell, the city’s community engagement manager.

“It’s a great time to get together and kick off something new, something fun for the summer,” Jewell said. “It’ll be a relaxing, comfortable event for everyone.”

Jewell said the idea for the parade came up after the Port of Camas-Washougal decided in 2023 to cancel its annual Fourth of July celebration on the Washougal waterfront. The city had been heavily involved in the annual port event, using its lodging tax funds to pay for the fireworks, and community members were dismayed to see the popular waterfront event disappear.

After hearing from residents that they had nothing to do for the 2024 Fourth of July holiday, city leaders wondered what they could do to fill the void, Jewell said.

“We thought, ‘What could we do that was … creative in nature?’ We had received some ideas from people wanting to do a little kid parade or non-motorized parade, and we thought, ‘The Fourth of July is a good time to grab that idea and run with it,’” she said.

The city has designed the event to be inclusive for all Washougal residents, Jewell said.

“Everyone can dress up in red, white and blue and participate,” she said. “It’s about everybody coming together to realize we’re all a part of a community. It’s not restrictive in nature. It doesn’t cost anything. It’s fun. And it brings the community together.”

The city is inviting parade participants to gather near the gazebo at the west end of Hathaway Park, at 732 25th St., Washougal, before the parade to decorate their “wheels,” play games, win prizes and share treats. The parade will begin near the gazebo, cross 24th Street, and wind its way toward the park’s pickleball courts before turning back.

“It’s not going to be a fast parade,” Jewell said. “It’ll probably take 20 to 40 minutes, but then they’ll come back and be able to sit on the lawn, have some refreshments, talk, play games or play on the (playground).”

The city plans to hold the parade on an annual basis, according to Jewell.

“We’ll see how it works this year and size it up from there,” she said. “We expect it to take traction this year, and we’ll build on it for next year.”

Jewell added that the 2026 parade will, like many other Washougal events, tie in to the nationwide America 250 festivities celebrating 250 years since the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

Doug Flanagan: 360-735-4669; doug.flanagan@columbian.com