Coos Bay’s annual 4th of July celebration will kick-off its 26th year with a burst of family activities in Mingus Park on Saturday, July 4th. The event is designed to create a fun, family friendly atmosphere at little to no cost. Everyone is welcome to participate in the festivities which will begin with a run around the park and continue with vendor booths (food, music, activities) and free swimming throughout the day: • 10:00 a.m. – Mayor’s Firecracker Run sponsored by the South Coast Running Club. Registration begins at 9:00 a.m. There will be a one mile kids run followed by a 4K race. • 11:00 a.m. – Presentation of the flag by the Boy Scouts of America. • 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. – Activities, crafts, music, food, and entertainment booths open (as long as supplies last). • 1:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. – Free swimming at the Mingus Park Pool. The most popular activities and vendors will be back this year including a children’s fishing derby (Coos Bay Volunteer Firefighter Association and the Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife), horse-petting (Tender Spirit Ranch), animal petting (Furry Friends), and face-painting (Coos Art Museum). Kids will have fun taking canoe rides (Boy Scouts of America), jumping on a bouncy house (Jump 4 Fun!), storytelling and receiving free books (Coos Bay Public Library), and participating in crafts and games (Shoreline Community Church). Smokey Bear will make an appearance with the Coos Forest Protective Association, and representatives from the Coos Bay Police Department and Bay Cities Ambulance will also be on site. A show-and-tell fire truck will be at the park for kids to check out. Musical entertainment will be provided by “Christina Bradley – Endless” (10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.) and “Local Honey” (1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.). Plenty of food will be available to enjoy as well! Our local Boy Scouts of America troop will have a hamburger/hot dog booth set-up for purchasing lunch at a nominal fee, and free popcorn will be handed out. The 4th of July activities end with the annual fireworks display at dusk in downtown Coos Bay by the waterfront. For additional information, please contact the Coos Bay Fire Department at 541-269-1191.
