Artfully Edmonds: Small town, big heart as Edmonds prepares for July 4th

Sights, sounds, singing and celebration! "An Edmonds Kind of 4th"
Sights, sounds, singing and celebration! “An Edmonds Kind of 4th”

An Edmonds Kind of 4th is as much circus, parades, a festival and a celebration of our nation’s independence, as it is a long-standing community event steeped in the traditions of 109 years of Edmonds history and achievements.

Added to all that this year has to offer is a series of firsts for the 4th. Thanks to the creative genius of the Edmonds Chamber of Commerce – organizers of the mega-celebration – these “firsts” include:

  • Independence Day-themed costume contest for “Beat Brackett 5K” walk/run;
  • Edmonds’ first “Mustache and Brackett Beard Competition,” judged moments before the fireworks display; and
  • A theme for the main parade: “Edmonds – small town, big heart”.

The fun on the 4th will include these civic events:

8:30 a.m.       “Beat Brackett 5K” walk/run check-in near 3rd Avenue South at Erben Drive.

9:45 a.m.       Announcement of the walk/run costume contest winner.

10 a.m.     And they’re off! The “Beat Brackett 5K” walk/run begins.

11:30 a.m.     Children’s Parade (check-in begins at 9:30 a.m. at 5th Avenue South and Walnut).

Noon   Main Parade (check-in begins at 9:30 a.m. at 7th Avenue and Glen Street).

2:30 p.m.       Fire Department Water Ball Competition – City Park

7:30 p.m.       Evening entertainment at the Civic Field Stadium.

9:45 p.m.       Announcement of the “Mustache and Brackett Beard” contest winner.

9:55 p.m.       “Star-Spangled Banner” performed by Malya Muth.

10 p.m.           Fireworks display at the Civic Field Stadium.

– – –

A 1st for Edmonds! – Costumes for the 5K

Get your “An Edmonds Kind of 4th” off and running with the “Beat Brackett 5K” family-friendly walk/run. Post-publish note: As of Sunday, June 3 at 9 p.m. the capacity of the field has been reached and the Chamber of Commerce has closed entry into the “Beat Brackett 5K”.

In their walk/run call-to-all, the Chamber says, “Join other runners, walkers, kids of all ages and parents with strollers and chase ol’ man George Brackett, the founder of Edmonds, through the downtown streets to the finish line. For even more fun, decorate one of the ol’ man Brackett beards that will be distributed, and wear it during the race!”

The “Beat Brackett 5K” walk/run will include:

  • A pre-race costume contest for best 4th of July-themed runner
  • Performance running shirts
  • Electronic timing with RFID chips
  • A chance to “Beat ol’ man Brackett”
  • An awards ceremony with medals for the top finishers

– – –

Children’s Parade Details

The children’s parade precedes the main parade with registration for tykes, trikes, tweens, and teens taking place in the IGA parking lot beginning at 10:15 a.m. with the children’s parade beginning at 11:30 a.m.

The Chamber announces that, “The Children’s Parade welcomes local kids and families in their best red, white and blue holiday costumes, along with decorated bikes, scooters, strollers and wagons.

All decked out for the children's parade. (Maggie Peterson photo)
All decked out for the children’s parade. (Maggie Peterson photo)

Four winners to be highlighted

“Judges for the children’s parade will evaluate the entries during the staging period and parade line-up. The four winning children’s parade participants will be moved to the front of the line up to kick-off the parade segment of the day’s celebration.

Entries will be evaluated in these categories:

  • Best Bike/Scooter,
  • Best Wagon/Stroller,
  • Most Patriotic, and
  • Most Original.

Staging area rules and regs: No pets, no motorized or battery-operated vehicles nor propaganda, or election leafleting in the staging area of parade route.”

– – –

A 1st for Edmonds! A themed Main Parade

The main parade has a theme this year: Edmonds – small town, big heart.

How will the parade participants incorporate this theme into their floats, ensembles, music and merriment?

The main parade will braid in from side streets surrounding Civic Field, with the parade route starting point being 6th Avenue near the Public Safety Complex. At Walnut Street, the route turns west and reverses itself along 5th Avenue northward toward the My Edmonds News broadcast booth in front of Old Milltown. Then, ‘round the iconic 5th and Main fountain, jogging west with a turn to give the folks along 4th Avenuea thrill. The parade route ends on Daley Street between 5th and 6th Avenues.

Don’t forget – My Edmonds News will broadcast the main parade live from Old Milltown. The broadcast, sponsored by Edmonds Community College, is hosted by Publisher Teresa Wippel and reporter and local historian Larry Vogel.

– – –

A 1st for Edmonds! Mustache and Brackett Beard Contest

Entry photos at 8:30 p.m. ~ Judging at 9:15 p.m. ~ Civic Field Bandstand

Edmonds is honoring George Brackett, town founder, with the first ever “Mustache and Brackett Beard” contest. Dapper man that he was, ol’ Brackett was never photographed without his conventional mustache and beard. But, that was 110 years ago! What’s in store for the judges of the “Mustache and Brackett Beard” contest as the sun sets over the Civic Field bandstands and the mustache and beard contestants line up for their entry-form photos?

Release form/photo registration form here. Fill it out early and bring it to the judging area.

– – –

Fireworks from the 2012 celebration. (AssInk)
Fireworks from the 2012 celebration.

Fireworks Display

According to the organizers, this is what we have to look forward to: “Ooh’s and aah’s as the skies over Edmonds come alive with the flash, colors and bang of a dazzling fireworks display set to traditional music.” 

Deejay Wendy Hartfelder (of City DJ) emcees the ceremonies, offering commentary on the events and contest results. So, whether you and yours are seated on the lawn of the Civic Field, or in the lower tiers of the bleachers; or in the pedestrian friendly by-ways surrounding the Civic Field – it’s going to be a magnificent “Edmonds Kind of 4th.”

~ ~ ~ ~

Teen summers nowadays belie the old "Deadmonds" cliche as Northland Nights kicks and ECA kick off a teen dance next week.
Teen summers nowadays belie the old “Deadmonds” cliche of nothing to do as Northend Nights and ECA kick off a teen dance next week.

After the 4th of July activities, there will still be plenty to do around Edmonds to celebrate summer! Now that our main stages have ended their performance seasons, we have an opportunity to look around and see how surrounding communities celebrate summer arts.

You will want to bookmark this site to remind yourself of the when’s and where’s of what’s happening in and around Edmonds over the next two months.

 

A Teen Dance!
Thursday, June 30
8 p.m.
Edmonds Center for the Arts
410 4th Ave. N.

School’s out for summer! What better way to celebrate the possibilities and promise than with a teen dance for Edmonds-area high school youth.

Northend Nights, which provides dance programs for communities, is a non-profit organization designed to provide high school students with safe and fun dance events.

For this event Northend Nights has booked “Jersey Jam”.

The number-one priority, Northend Nights promises,  is the safety and security of event attendees, working with Titan Security.  You can learn more here.

Tickets for teens are available at this outlet.

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Don't be caught without 'shorts', the Driftwood Players warn.
Don’t be caught without ‘shorts’, the Driftwood Players warn.

Friday, July 8-10

Friday & Saturday at 8 p.m.
Sunday at 2 p.m.

Festival of Shorts
Wade James Theatre
950 Main St.

Edmonds Driftwood Players presents the 7th Annual Festival of Shorts, with eight great shorts selected from over 200 submissions from around the globe. The finalists were chosen through “blind” readings by the Driftwood Players selection committee. These “never before produced” shorts will make their debut on an Edmonds stage!

The theme of this year’s festival is “Paradox.” The selected playwrights will exhibit their most innovative, hilarious or profound 15 minutes of stage-time, with actors and directors chosen through Driftwood auditions. Each night the audience selects their favorite and on Sunday, a panel of esteemed judges will select an overall festival winner.

Festival producer and executive producer of the TIPs (Theater of Intriguing Possibilities) series, Diane Jamieson, says that she “is thrilled with this year’s submissions and can’t wait for everyone to join Driftwood Players as season subscribers and festival attendees.” Festival of Shorts closes out the 2015-16 Season and the TIPs 2016 series.

The finalists for the 2016 Festival are (in no particular order):

  • I Couldn’t Compete with a Harley, C. Schindewolf, Bradenton, FL
  • The Solution by R. Kimble, Seattle, WA
  • Cupid by J. Cook, North Augusta, SC
  • Our Ten by M. Levine, Pasadena, CA
  • Stop Saying That by G. Smart, Quincy, MA
  • The Doppelganger, J. Feldstein, Jackson Heights, NY
  • A Prayer for the Firecracker Kid by A. Scully, Columbia, MO
  • A Little Heartbreak by P. Hall, FL

To purchase tickets, proceed to this box office or call 425-774-9600.

~ ~ ~ ~

Shown here during their 2011 performance, Reilly and Maloney are now conducting their "Farewell Tour" with Edmonds among the circuit stops.
Shown here during their 2011 performance, Reilly and Maloney are now conducting their “Farewell Tour” with Edmonds among the circuit stops.

Concerts in all the parks!

Can’t get enough of concerts-in-the-park now that summer is here? Shoreline Arts Council starts off the concerts in the parks series for our area with their Wednesday, July 6 concert. Smart planning by the arts councils and parks and recreation staff in the greater Edmonds area ensures there are no performing arts calendar conflicts for the music-on-the-grass crowd. Here is information for Shoreline, Edmonds and Lake Forest Park concerts for July and August.

Wednesdays
Starting July 6
Concerts in the Park by the
Shoreline Arts Council

Beginning with the hot, hopping, stomping rock and roll, the Shoreline Arts Council has chosen Nolan Garrett to kick off the Shoreline/Lake Forest Park summer concert season.

Details of the four-venue circuit schedule can be found at this link.

– – –

Wednesdays/Thursdays
Beginning mid-July
7 p.m. 
Lynndale Park Amphitheatre 18927 72nd Ave. W.
Lynnwood

On Wednesday and Thursday evenings (rain or shine!) Shakespeare classics will be performed at Lynndale Park’s amphitheater. Performing companies will be the Wooden O Theatre through July 21; and then Greenstage on July 28 and Aug. 4:

July 13/14                  Hamlet

July 20/21                  Love’s Labour’s Lost

July 28/Aug 04          Merry Wives of Windsor

– – –

Edmonds Summer Concert Series
I.  Sundays 3-4 p.m.
Rain cancellation goes out at 2:30 p.m.

City Park
3rd Ave S and Pine St

July 10           Reilly and Maloney                     Folk, Farewell Tour

July 17           Seattle Schakespeare Co.            Love’s Labour’s Lost

July 24           Ian McFeron Band                       Americana

July 31           Global Heat                                Funky Soul

Aug 7             Centerpiece Jazz Band                 Jazz

Aug 14           Orchestra Zarabanda                   Hot Cuban Salsa

Aug 21           DownTown Mountain Boys            Bluegrass

– – –

2.  Tuesdays noon-1 p.m. 
Hazel Miller Plaza at Noon
5th Avenue South and Maple Street
Rain or shine – nothing’s stopping this series!

July 19                       Bill Robison                  Comedy

July 26                       Juliana & PAVA             Russian Folk Songs

Aug 2                       Buffo the Clown            Interactive Silliness

Aug 9                       Bonnie Birch Duo          European Melodies

Aug 16                       Dobson’s Steel Drums    Caribbean Sounds

Aug 23                       Ranger/Re-Arrangers      Gypsy, Jazz, Swing

3. Thursdays 5-6:30 p.m.
Hazel Miller Plaza at 5 p.m.
5th Avenue South and Maple Street
The show goes on, rain or shine

July 14                       The Rarantellas           Songs of Italy

July 21                       The Ginger Ups           Jazz inspired Pop

July 28                       Squirrel Butter            Old Time Americana

Aug 04                       SeaStar                      Celtic Folk

Aug 11                       Maya Soleil Traditions   African Roots

Aug 18                       Deems & Side B            Jazz Funk

~ ~ ~ ~

Write On the Sound (WOTS) announces John Moe as the 2016 keynoter.
Write On the Sound (WOTS) announces John Moe as the 2016 keynoter.

Write on the Sound (WOTS) announced this week the keynote personality for the 31st annual writers’ conference to be held Oct. 1-2; with a set of pre-conference workshops on Friday, Sept. 30.

Author, humorist and radio personality John Moe will present his keynote address, “Better Writing Through Making Yourself Miserable.” Moe’s keynote will take a humorous and sincere look at the challenge writers and artists face when they look to themselves for motivation and inspiration.

Moe will also present a session on humor writing as part of the conference’s workshop schedule. People interested in attending the keynote and workshop must register to attend the conference.

Moe is the author of three books: Dear Luke, We Need To Talk, Darth, The Deleted Emails Of Hillary Clinton, and Conservatize Me. His writing has appeared in numerous humor anthologies, as well as The New York Times Magazine, The Seattle Times, Seattle Weekly, and many other publications. He has hosted nationally distributed public radio programs such as Wits, Weekend America, and Marketplace Tech Report and his radio work has been featured on All Things Considered and Morning Edition. He can be heard on Minnesota Public Radio News and The Current.

A native of Federal Way and well known to Seattleites, Moe currently lives in St Paul, Minn.

– – –

Write on the Sound (WOTS), held in the historic Frances Anderson Center in Edmonds, is one of the premier writers’ conferences in the Pacific Northwest. WOTS offers an affordable opportunity for writers of all levels to refine their style and skill, discover a new genre, and attain information about today’s publishing industry.

Registration for 2016

On Monday, July 18 at 9 a.m., registration for the 2016 conference will open for online, in-person and phone-in registration.

Write on the Sound is a program of the City of Edmonds Arts Commission and is presented with support from Windermere Real Estate Edmonds, Patricia Thorpe and Heather Krause/RBC Wealth Management; Best Western Plus/Edmonds Harbor Inn, Edmonds Bookshop, Walnut Street Café, and Rick Steves Europe.

Full conference information is available at www.writeonthesound.com.

~ ~ ~ ~

Choir of the Sound

Auditions!
Tuesday, July 19
Tuesday, July 26

Choir of the Sound (COTS) is holding auditions for all voice parts for its 2016-2017 season.

The auditions will take place at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, July 19, and Tuesday, July 26, at Terrace View Presbyterian Church, 4700 – 228th St. S.W., Mountlake Terrace, WA 98043.

Alternate dates are available by special arrangement.

To schedule an audition, please e-mail auditions@choirofthesound.org or call 206-528-9990.

– By Emily Hill

Emily-2015-Bio-jPeg-for-News-150x150

Emily Hill is the author of two novels and a short story collection. Emily is retired from a career in public information and news media relations. If you would like your event listed, or featured, in Artfully Edmonds, Emily invites you to contact her here.

 

 

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