Fun, family, and fireworks draw the crowds to Brewster Fourth

BREWSTER – No other holiday quite compares with July 4th in this city for variety, family fun, and community spirit. That was proven once again last Thursday as Independence Day revelers capped a 12-hour celebration with fireworks over the Columbia River at Columbia Cove Park.

“It’s a $15,000 show,” said city Director of Finance Misty Ruiz. “It’s going to be a big one.”

What began with a downtown parade at 11 a.m. down Main Street did not end until the last fireworks fizzled over the Columbia River at Cove Park 12 hours later. In between was a nonstop array of attractions and activities, from vendors lining the drive into the cove to a book sale and Brewster Boys and Girls Club games on the grass.

Chamber of Commerce President and city council member Pedro de la Cerda was grinning ear-to-ear over the turnout.

” Look how everybody is enjoying it and having fun,” de la Cerda said.

The near ninety-degree heat during the midday was tolerable, considering the triple-digit temperatures baking other parts of the country over the July 4 holiday. The parade traveled to Seventh Avenue, where it took a left and continued south to Columbia Cove Park.

About two dozen runners turned out for the 7 p.m. Color Run, which made a circuit on Seventh Avenue to Main Street and back to the starting point. Sisters Alex and Rosario Olvera finished one-two.

“I thought it went very well,” said BBGC Director Elizabeth Shepherd. 

Shepherd said she is going to refine the same events for next year while she investigates adding more. 

As the day waned and darkness neared, the Brewster Police Department booth became a hub for handouts of hundreds of light sticks that lit up the surrounding area before the big fireworks show.

“We are going to launch a drone later and hope to see 500 of these from the sky,” said Chief Marcos Ruiz as he demonstrated the color combinations of the 18-inch-long light tube.

Mike Maltais: 360-333-8483 or michael@ward.media