What to do in the upper valley over Fourth of July weekend

LEAVENWORTH – While recreational fireworks are banned in Chelan County, there is still plenty of fun to be found in the upper valley over Fourth of July weekend.

Icicle Village Resort will host 4th of July Plaza-Palooza from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the holiday. The festive block party will have lawn games, bubbles, sidewalk chalk, and temporary tattoos in Snow Lakes Plaza. The laid-back atmosphere will have Americana pop music playing all day, themed holiday swag, and the backdrop of the mountains. Mini golf will be available for $15 for the public and $10 for hotel guests. Those who play before 3 p.m. will receive a free non-alcoholic beverage and a choice of a hot dog or a pretzel from the concessions stand, which will also have BBQ-style concessions, alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages for sale. Guests should keep an eye out for a roaming frozen sweet treat station throughout the day.

Headed downtown Friday evening for some live music, such as old school country and rock & roll by local musician Chris Ward from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Goose Ridge Tasting Room. Reservations are encouraged. All ages are welcome to München Haus for live music from Bandits Of The Animal Kingdom, a Central Washington band playing pop covers and originals with vocal harmonies, ukuleles, mandolin, guitar, bass, sax, clarinet and drums.

Downtown classics will be going on throughout the weekend, such as the farmer’s market in Lions Club Park from 9 a.m. to  1 p.m. on Saturday, Village Art in the Park from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, and summer music at the Front Street Gazebo. On Saturday, the music will feature the Bonnie Birch Trio from 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., AlpenFolk from 5 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., and the Bonnie Birch Trio again from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. The trio will also play from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday.

In the Plain and Lake Wenatchee area, the Lake Wenatchee Rec Club will host its annual community flea market on July 4 and 5. At noon on July 5, the Ponderosa Community will host an Independence Day parade led by Lake Wenatchee Fire and Rescue. The parade will be followed by parade awards, ice cream and live music by Virgil Eagle of the band Whiskey Trail from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Live music can also be found on the evening of July 4 at Plain Cellars, with The Lounge Kings from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. and the Nick Mardon Trio from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Attendees are encouraged to bring lawn chairs, wine tumblers and their dancing shoes. Tents or umbrellas are recommended for shade. Food will be available for purchase starting at 4 p.m., with BBQ for adults and corndogs for kids. Wine will be served starting at 3 p.m. Tickets are required for this event, with kids entering free. 

Taylor Caldwell: 509-433-7276 or taylor@ward.media