Walla Walla Point Park becomes Wenatchee's backyard for the Fourth

WENATCHEE — Long before the first fireworks shell rose above the Columbia River, Walla Walla Point Park had already become the center of Wenatchee's Independence Day celebration of America’s 250th year.

Families spread blankets beneath shade trees, children filled the playground and swim beach, cyclists streamed steadily along the Apple Capital Loop Trail, and volleyball games carried on throughout the afternoon as thousands of people packed the park for a full day of music, food and community.

The annual Fourth of July celebration returned to Walla Walla Point Park for a second straight year, once again transforming the riverfront into an all-day festival featuring live entertainment, food vendors, a beer garden, family activities and one of North Central Washington's largest fireworks displays. The event followed the same successful format introduced last year, with music beginning in the morning and continuing until the evening's patriotic finale.

On the Elevated Events stage, local musicians performed throughout the day while festivalgoers drifted between the lawn, vendor booths and the beer garden. Inside the fenced beer garden, competitors squared off in a cornhole tournament as spectators relaxed with cold drinks between games.

Elsewhere in the park, the celebration took on the feel of a midsummer Saturday as much as a holiday festival. Kids raced across the expanded playground, beach volleyball courts stayed busy along the river, and visitors cooled off at the swim beach while others wandered the vendor booths in search of barbecue, frozen treats and fresh-squeezed lemonade.

The Apple Capital Loop Trail remained active throughout the day, with cyclists and walkers passing directly through the celebration, adding to the steady flow of people moving across the park.

As evening approached, families claimed spots on the grass while others gathered beneath the park pavilion to escape the afternoon heat before the night's signature performance.

The patriotic program opened with the Apollo Club performing the national anthem as a Boy Scout color guard presented the colors. From there, the combined bands of Wenatchee High School and Eastmont High School once again provided the soundtrack for the fireworks display, performing in synchronization with the bursts over the Columbia River in a tradition that has become the centerpiece of the celebration.

By the time the final shells echoed across the river, the celebration, presented by the Salcido Group, had spanned more than 12 hours and created a full day that blended recreation, music and community gathering before ending with the annual fireworks spectacular.

Andrew Simpson: 509-433-7626 or andrew@ward.media