Deschutes County Fair and Expo July 4, 11am-4pm this is a free, fun, family event so gather up your family and come spend the day with games, music and fun for all ages. Enjoy games, pony rides, petting zoo, archery, Frisbee golf, pie eating contest, bounce houses, a bicycle obstacle course and more. Concessions and the beer garden will be open. Live music presented by Well Fargo will feature the Substitutes, who will play throughout the afternoon.

 

Just as the story of our country can best be told through the individual stories of its people, Redmond’s annual day-long 4th of July celebration can best be appreciated through stories of the humble citizens who, through the years, have quietly made such a celebration possible in Redmond.

 

From the 1,400 American flags placed throughout the downtown corridor at the break of dawn to the fireworks display over the Deschutes Fair & Expo Center at dusk, citizens of Redmond and from throughout Central Oregon have a few forward-thinking yet understated leaders to thank for making Redmond the place to be each year on July 4th. Featured below are some of these citizens:

 

REDMOND FIREWORKS Mike Moore, Annual Fireworks Donor

During the recent Great Recession, funding for Redmond’s annual fireworks display had dried up and the community was close to cancelling the 2011 event. Then Moore stepped in. The owner of High Desert Aggregate & Paving in Terrebonne, Moore pledged to fill the gap in funding for that year and has quietly paid for 100 percent of the cost for 4th of July fireworks every year since — about $7,500 per year.

 

FLAG CITY U.S.A. Randy Povey (w/ Mac McShannon), Chair/Co-Founder

In 1991, with help from then Redmond City Councilor Randy Povey, Mac McShannon organized the staging of 180 American flags throughout downtown Redmond on July 4th. While the initial display was in celebration of soldiers returning from Desert Storm, the tradition continued each 4th of July with an ever-growing display. In 1999, the tradition earned Redmond the designation as Flag City U.S.A. on U.S. Congressional Record. Though McShannon pass away in 2002, Povey and the Redmond Flag Committee has continued to grow the tradition with 1,400 donated American flags currently being displayed in Redmond during seven holidays each year, including the 4th of July — a process that involves the use of dozens of volunteers.

 

4TH OF JULY PARADE – CANDY: Redmond Chamber, Kiwanis Club of Redmond, RAPRD

Two years ago, city officials approached the Redmond Chamber of Commerce with concerns about safety as it related to throwing candy at the Chamber’s annual 4th of July Parade in downtown Redmond. Cognizant of how candy enhanced the parade experience for kids — throwing candy is a great American parade tradition, after all — the Redmond Chamber sought a solution. This year as in the past, candy will continue to fly thanks to a cooperative effort that includes the Chamber (hosts the parade and chalks a spectator safety line along the entirety of the parade route), the Redmond Area Park and Recreation District (loans the chalker each year) and the Redmond Kiwanis (club volunteers police the chalk lines on each block to ensure child safety). The annual Redmond 4th of July parade will take place along Sixth Street in downtown Redmond beginning at 10am.

 

FREEDOMFEST: Calvary Chapel Redmond, Organizers

Yet another annual (and free) Redmond 4th of July event, Freedomfest is a community outreach celebration by Calvary Chapel Redmond that will feature live music, activities for the kids and free hot dogs, chili and drinks for everyone! The event will take place at The Garden on the corner of Ninth Street and Glacier Avenue from 11am-2pm on Friday, July

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