Ridgefield's 4th of July 2026: Celebrating 250 Years with the Full Parade, Parking & Fireworks Guide
This year's a big one — the whole country turns 250, and Ridgefield is throwing its biggest Independence Day yet. Street dance Friday night, a parade that's been a local tradition for over a century, and a fireworks-friendly Saturday — here's everything you need to know.
If you've lived in Ridgefield for any length of time, you already know the 4th of July is not a small deal here. The all-volunteer Ridgefield 4th of July Committee has been pulling this celebration together for more than 100 years, and this year carries extra weight — 2026 marks America's 250th birthday, and downtown Ridgefield is planning to celebrate accordingly. It's estimated 5,000 people come into our little downtown for two days of parades, music, food, and fireworks in a normal year — expect this one to draw even more. Whether you're a longtime local or just found out you live here at the right time of year, this guide walks through the full schedule, where to park, what's closed, and how to actually enjoy it without circling for parking until noon.
Did You Know?
- The 100th anniversary of America's founding is called the centennial, and the 200th anniversary — celebrated on July 4, 1976 — was the bicentennial.
- This year's 250th anniversary has its own mouthful of a name: the semiquincentennial (also sometimes called the sestercentennial or quarter-millennial).
- Half a century from now, in 2076, the country will hit its tricentennial — so if you're downtown this year, you're catching a milestone most of us only get to see once.
The Full Weekend Schedule
The celebration kicks off Friday evening and runs all day Saturday. Here's the lineup, hour by hour.
Friday, July 3 — The Street Dance
- 6 PM – 10 PM: Street Dance at Davis Park, free to all
- Food trucks, live music, dancing, and kids' activities
- Beer garden on site
Pancakes, sausage, and orange juice to start the day, served up by the Ridgefield Wrestling Team. Adults are $10 for two pancakes, two sausages, and OJ; kids are $5 for one of each.
Check-in opens at Davis Park ahead of the 8 AM start. Pre-registered runners can pick up t-shirts here between 7 and 8 AM, or the evening before at Davis Park from 5 to 7 PM on July 3rd.
A 2.5-mile out-and-back: start at Davis Park, head out to the end of the walking path at the Marina, then back to the finish line at Davis Park. The first 5 men and first 5 women across the line win their pick of a berry or apple pie, or $10 in Main Street Moola. Register for the Fun Run — sign-up with a guaranteed t-shirt closes June 15th, but you can still register the morning of the run if a shirt isn't a dealbreaker.
Free Zumba at Davis Park, running 9 to 9:30 AM. Grab coffee and browse vendor booths beforehand, starting at 8:30 AM.
Kids meet at the corner of Pioneer and 3rd in their patriotic best. They'll walk a short loop for the spectators before returning to parents. Leashed pets welcome — please plan to clean up after them, and yes, costumes are encouraged.
The big one. Route runs from 4th Avenue west on Division, south on 3rd Avenue, then east on Pioneer Street, ending at 8th Avenue.
Food and craft vendors line S. Main, Pioneer, and Overlook Park. Kids' wristbands are $5 for unlimited activities all day, and Overlook Park has live entertainment and street dancing after the parade.
Five age categories from 6 to 15. Sign up day-of at the souvenir booth in Overlook Park — slots fill fast, and prizes are awarded.
If you want a custom 4th of July shirt, they're made on site the day of the event — a new design every year, $15 each, with youth sizes available too.
Parking & Getting Downtown
This is the part everyone actually needs to read. Downtown fills up fast and road closures start in the morning, so plan your route before you leave the house.
Best Detour Route
- Pioneer Street closes at Hillhurst for the parade, with a required detour
- If you're driving in, go north on Royle Road or Reiman Road to NW 289th Street, then south on Main Avenue
- This avoids the worst of the downtown backups entirely
- Plan to arrive by 10 AM if you want a good parade-viewing spot
Parade Route & Viewing Spots
The parade steps off at 11 AM and runs from 4th Avenue west on Division, south on 3rd Avenue, then east on Pioneer Street to 8th Avenue. Expect classic engines, marching groups, and plenty of red-white-and-blue along the way — Ridgefield's volunteer fire department always brings out the old trucks. If you want a specific spot staked out, there are rules for that now.
The City allows chairs along the parade route starting at noon on July 3rd — not before. Whoever places the chairs has to stay with them until at least 6 PM that evening. After that, some no-reservation zones won't allow chairs again until 7 AM on the 4th, so read the posted signs in those areas.
Each adult can claim a maximum of five chairs, placed off the pavement and side-by-side with no gaps. Ropes, tape, chalk, paint, stakes, or blankets used to mark territory aren't allowed, and unattended or rule-breaking chairs may be removed and held at the Ridgefield Police Department for pickup the following Monday.
Parade Route RMC 5.40.140Fireworks: What's Legal in Ridgefield
Discharge Window: July 4th Only
- Fireworks may legally be discharged in Ridgefield on July 4th only, from 9 AM to midnight
- Buy locally from a stand inspected by the Clark County Fire Marshal's Office — fireworks purchased outside the county may not be legal here
- Illegal use, including discharging outside the legal window or using a banned device type, carries a $500 civil fine for first-time offenders
- Don't call 911 or 311 to report nuisance fireworks — call the dedicated CRESA line instead: 360-597-7888, staffed July 3 through 5
A few safety basics worth repeating every year: keep a hose or bucket of water nearby, have a responsible adult supervising, use fireworks well clear of structures, vehicles, and dry grass, and never relight a dud. Soak spent fireworks in water overnight before tossing them — they can still smolder long after they look finished.
Restrooms Downtown
Portable toilets will be set up at several spots along the route, plus one permanent public restroom:
Ridgefield Administrative and Civic Center (510 Pioneer) · 5th Ave & Division · Davis Park (Mill & 3rd Ave) · next to City Hall (3rd Ave & Pioneer) · Overlook Park (Main & Pioneer), which also has a permanent public restroom on site.
Portable Toilets Public RestroomQuick Tips for a Smoother Day
- Take the free Costco shuttle if you can — it sidesteps the road closures entirely
- Bring cash for vendor booths, the $5 kids' wristband, and the $15 commemorative shirts
- Sunscreen and water — late morning into afternoon in Overlook Park gets warm fast with no shade over the crowd
- If you're claiming a parade-viewing spot, remember the noon-on-July-3rd rule before you set out chairs early
This celebration runs entirely on volunteer effort — the Ridgefield 4th of July Committee is an incorporated nonprofit, no one on it gets paid, and the whole thing is funded through local donations, vendor fees, and sponsorships. If you're downtown enjoying the parade, the food booths, or the fireworks tonight, that's worth keeping in mind.
Want to Be in the Parade?
If you've got a float, a marching group, a classic car, or just want to walk the route with your business or organization, the parade is open to entries. Applications for the 2026 parade close June 26th, so get yours in soon.
Apply to be in the paradeMore from Meanwhile in Ridgefield
With thanks to this year's 4th of July sponsors: Port of Ridgefield, PEP, ilani, City of Ridgefield, C-TRAN, Riverview Community Bank, Pape, TVC, Tapani, and Barnick Chiropractic — and Friends of the Parade IQ Credit Union and TLC Towing.
