Oregon Fourth of July Activities

Barbecue and fireworks ... what more do you need for the Fourth of July?

If you're looking for something a little bit different in Oregon on the Fourth, there are a handful of activities you can check out and still enjoy the festivities.

Oregon Baseball

America's Pastime is a great way to celebrate America's Independence Day, and Oregon generally has a few opportunities to get out to the ballpark on July 4. Take in a little baseball, grab a hot dog and a beer and stay after for the fireworks.

The Portland Beavers, a AAA minor league team, plays at PGE Park this year against the Las Vegas 51s. First pitch is at 7:05 p.m., and the Beavers will put on a fireworks show after the game's over.

Minor league baseball teams throughout the state offer similar opportunities - the Eugene Emeralds play against Everett at 7:05 on July 4 at the University of Oregon's PK Park, and the Ems will also put on a fireworks show after the game.

Oregon Rodeos

July is rodeo time in Oregon, and the state has several top-notch events that run through the Fourth of July and culminate in fireworks shows.

The St. Paul Rodeo celebrates its 75th anniversary in 2010 with a full day of events scheduled on July 4. The festivities in the town of St. Paul begin at 10 a.m. with a Fourth of July Parade, followed by a carnival and the opening of the Western Showcase, which is a venue for artists and vendors that runs from 11:30 a.m. until midnight. The rodeo events begin with a matinee performance at 1:30 p.m., and the final events start at 7:30 p.m., with fireworks following the last event.

The Eugene Pro Rodeo also runs through July 4, with a fireworks show scheduled to start after Sunday's events. The event is held at the Oregon Horse Center on the north end of Eugene, and Sunday's events begin with motorcycle jumping at 6 p.m., followed by bull riding at 7:30 p.m. The fireworks show starts at 9:30 p.m. with a dance set to follow.

The Molalla Buckeroo PRCA Rodeo in Molalla, Oregon, the Pro Rough Stock Futurities Rodeo in Haines, Oregon, the NPRA Rodeo in Yoncalla, Oregon, and the La Pine Rodeo in La Pine, Oregon, also have events scheduled for July 4.

Oregon Coast

Many towns along the Oregon coast put on large Fourth of July celebrations each year, with parades, activities and fireworks shows.

The towns of Astoria and Warrenton, at the north end of the Oregon coast, have a full weekend of activities scheduled, including a barbecue at the Warrenton Fire Station at noon on Sunday; a fair that runs from noon to 6 p.m. at the Robinson Community Park in Warrenton; a parade that runs through Warrenton at 3 p.m.; and fireworks that shoot off over the Columbia River in Astoria beginning at dusk (around 10 p.m.)

Seaside, Oregon, puts on a parade at 11 a.m. on July 4 that features world-class drum and bugle corps groups. The parade winds through town, ending at the Museum and Historical Society, which will hold an Old Fashioned Social with games, food and activities, including a cake walk. Seaside's fireworks show is spectacular, beginning at about 10 p.m. with a fireworks display set to music and visible from the beach-front promenade.

Sources:
Portland Beavers
Eugene Emeralds
St. Paul Rodeo
Eugene Pro Rodeo
Oregon Coast Fourth of July, Beach Connection