Eatonville’s Independence Day celebrations returning

Eatonville’s Independence Day celebrations are coming back Saturday and Sunday. Last year's event was cancelled because of the pandemic. This year's celebrations will be the same as before, with only a few minor differences.

Kelli Loudin, one of the Eatonville Chamber of Commerce members in charge of the event, said they are “ecstatic” the event is returning this year.

“This is our biggest event of the year as the chamber,” Loudin said. “The four of us that do this pour hours into this event. It was heartbreaking last year to cancel. We are so excited to see everyone back out. This event is a tradition. Not for us, but for the town and all the families that come out.”

First, the Eatonville Chamber of Commerce is currently raising money to help fund the Independence Day celebrations.

The first event is a raffle drawing. The prize is a 2007 Mercedes that Eatonville Auto Sales had donated. Anyone can enter the drawing by buying a raffle ticket for $1 each at Sorenson’s, Arrow Lumber, Eatonville Licensing and All About You Salon.

The second event to raise money for the celebrations is the Decorate a Porta-Potty. For $75 for each porta potty, anyone can decorate a porta-potty with removable decorations between 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday with removable decorations. All decorations must be removed by 11 p.m. on Saturday after the fireworks.

Loudin says the events will be the same as previous years and feature a band, a blood mobile, bounce houses, vendors and fire, police and Life Flight stations. The fireworks will go off at dark Saturday, and the parade will start at noon Sunday.

The only drawback is the number of vendors, Loudin said.

“Vendors apps are down this year,” Loudin said. “We do have a few new food trucks coming this year, and that’s exciting.”

The Chamber of Commerce will not know what, if any, COVID-19 restrictions will be mandated by Gov. Jay Inslee’s plans for reopening until later this week, Loudin said.

In the meantime, Loudin said, families are encouraged to take any precautions they need and be responsible for keeping themselves and their families safe.

The history of the Independence Day celebration in Eatonville started when a few women took over the July 4th parade. One of the women’s daughter was a Daffodil Princess. The year after that, organizers added the fireworks display, and the events got bigger each year. Then, a few years ago, the Eatonville Chamber of Commerce took over.

The Chamber of Commerce is grateful for the support of the community, Loudin said.

“The top of that gratitude list goes to the residents living here,” Loudin said. “We know traffic gets messy, horses poop in the road and people park in front of their homes, and roads get closed or blocked … but everyone is always so good about it. They are excited to see us. They trust us because we have done it for years. They know what we do for them, for the kids, for the people here.”