Othello busts loose for the Fourth

A parade, fun runs, a soccer tournament, games for the kids and a lip-synching contest will be among the events at the annual July 4 celebration in Othello. The skate park will be dedicated to a man who helped encourage its creation, with a skateboard tournament immediately following.
Race check-in and same-day registration for “Let Freedom Run” will be from 6:15 to 7 a.m. at the Hamlet Street gazebo in Lions Park. The 1-mile race starts at 7 a.m., with a 7:15 a.m. start for the 5K and 10K. All races start on Hamlet Street and end on Fir Street, at the Othello Community Pool parking lot.
Registration is $8 for the 1-mile walk and $15 for the 5K and 10K runs. The men and women winners in the 5K and 10K will receive plaques; all other participants will receive ribbons.
The Othello Rotary chapter will be serving breakfast from 8 to 10 a.m. in Lions Park. Menu includes pancakes, bacon, coffee and juice, among other choices.
The annual July 4 parade steps off down Main Street at 10 a.m. – but wait, there’s a special bike and trike parade as part of the bigger parade. Kids (and moms and dads, for little kids) are invited to bring their trikes and bikes (kids can decorate their bikes if they choose) and ride in a special section of the parade. Lineup for the trikes and bikes is at 9:30 p.m. at the intersection of 13th Avenue and Main Street.
That’s also where all parade participants’ line up and checks in are located. Lineup starts at 8:30 a.m. The parade route extends down Main Street to Third Street.
A 3-on-3 soccer tournament, for kids ages 5-18, is scheduled for 11 a.m. in Lions Park. Participation is free. Middle school students and older will be competing for places, while elementary school teams will play a jamboree.
Students in the Othello Police Department Explorer program will raise the flag at 11:15 a.m. at Lions Park. The park will be full of activities and vendors throughout the afternoon.
The Dan Dever Memorial Skate Park will be dedicated at noon. Dever saw the kids out around town on their skateboards, and was encouraged to work with the city to build a skate park. He died before the park was finished. The skateboard tournament starts at noon.
Children’s games are scheduled for 1 to 3 p.m. in the park, with a cakewalk, three legged race, water balloon toss and a tug of war, among others. A pie eating contest is scheduled for 3:30 p.m.
Performers can bring their lip sync (and even their dancing) skills to the lip sync contest at 8 p.m. at the stage at Lions Park. Competition is divided into two categories, eighth grade and younger and ninth grade and older. Entry fee is $10.
The day winds up with the annual fireworks show, which starts about 10 p.m.