4th of July Events for Seniors in Port Orchard, WA
Port Orchard, WA is a beautiful waterfront community that offers a wealth of 4th of July events for seniors and families. From fireworks to food trucks and museums to parks, you can find seasonal fun for everyone.
Liberty Place is the perfect home base to enjoy Port Orchard events year-round. Our senior living community is designed with you in mind. You can choose the activities that suit you best.
Learn about some of the exciting events Port Orchard has to offer for Independence Day and how to join in the fun.
Fathoms O' Fun Festival
Fathoms O' Fun Festival is one of the signature Port Orchard events of the summer. Fathoms O' Fun is a nonprofit organization whose programs include scholarships for local youth and youth engagement activities.
The Fourth of July festival starts in June, with concerts at the Port of Bremerton's Marina Park in Port Orchard. Enjoy strolling through downtown while collecting charms for your charm bracelet as part of the Charm Walk. You can:
- Sample cuisine from the food trucks
- Shop the craft booths
- Enjoy live music throughout the day
The Great Ball Race is a notable part of the festival. You can buy a ball and watch them all race down the hill on Fredricks Ave. toward Bay St. The first ball to reach the bottom wins the grand prize.
After the ball race, you can watch the Grand Parade downtown. Enjoy more live music before the Bridge Blast Fireworks Show, which takes to the sky over the Warren Avenue Bridge. Good viewing locations include the gazebo area of Marina Park.
Fireworks Over Sinclair Inlet
The grand finale of the Fathoms O' Fun Festival is the fireworks over Sinclair Inlet. You can enjoy food trucks, craft vendors, and live music starting at 4 pm, leading up to the fireworks show. The fireworks light up the skies above the waterfronts in Port Orchard and Bremerton.
Bremerton Bridge Blast
The Bremerton Bridge Blast bills itself as the largest bridge fireworks show on the West Coast. Fireworks are only part of the seasonal fun, though. The Independence Day celebrations start with the Boardwalk Festival, which features:
- Craft and commercial vendors
- Food trucks
- Live entertainment
While you're on the boardwalk, you can take in the historical markers and sculptures. You also have a picturesque view of the boats in the harbor and the ferries coming in and out.
The fireworks display launches from the Manette Bridge. Viewing areas are the Bremerton Boardwalk and Evergreen Rotary Park.
The park offers a more relaxed environment with plenty of grass for your lawn chairs and blankets. Bring the grandkids to play on the playground while you wait for the fireworks to start.
Concerts by the Bay
You can enjoy Concerts by the Bay all summer, including around the 4th of July. Concerts are held rain or shine at the gazebo in Port of Bremerton Marina Park in Port Orchard. Concerts are free.
The full concert schedule is online. Concerts are generally on Thursdays and Saturdays and include a mix of musical genres like:
- Classic rock
- R & B
- Blues
- Jazz
Honoring Veterans and Service Members
For 4th of July senior activities with a more historical theme, plan a visit to the Puget Sound Navy Museum in Bremerton or the Veterans Living History Museum in Port Orchard.
Both museums are within a block of the foot ferry. The foot ferry doesn't run on the 4th of July itself, but it's a fun and easy option the rest of the holiday weekend. Most foot ferry boats are wheelchair accessible, with fares as low as $1 for a one-way ticket.
Puget Sound Navy Museum
The Puget Sound Navy Museum is open Wednesday through Monday and has regular hours on the 4th of July. Permanent exhibits include an exploration of life as a sailor aboard the USS Nimitz, a nuclear aircraft carrier. You can also learn about the history of the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, which has been supporting the Navy for over 125 years.
The museum's temporary exhibits highlight different aspects of naval history. One of the current exhibits focuses on U.S. Navy uniforms throughout history. You can see examples of ways sailors personalize their uniforms and the surprising influence of the Navy wardrobe on popular fashion.
Veterans Living History Museum
The Veterans Living History Museum can be found in a small storefront on Bay Street. It's owned and operated by a local citizen, and you can browse the collection for free on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays when the weather is good.
Each item in the museum was owned by a service member, and you can learn about each person's story. Many pieces in the museum are local. For example, you can see the Medal of Honor replica that belonged to WWII veteran John "Bud" Hawk, in whose honor Bremerton established its Armed Forces Day Parade in 1948.
Manchester State Park
Manchester State Park is an ideal location to celebrate the 4th of July with a picnic and stunning views of Puget Sound. The park served as a harbor defense installation for Bremerton starting in the early 1900s, and it still contains the historic torpedo warehouse.
For a more vigorous outing, you can take advantage of almost two miles of trails or walk down to the beach. You're likely to spot various birds and other coastal wildlife.
Enjoy Your Favorite 4th of July Events
Port Orchard and the neighboring communities offer a wealth of 4th of July events perfect for seniors and families. You can find everything from a rousing fireworks display to a family picnic overlooking Puget Sound. Celebrate our nation's birthday the way you like best.
Whether you're looking for a community gathering for Independence Day or a quiet evening at home, the helpful staff at Liberty Place can facilitate it for you. Our Vibrant Life program gives you the flexibility to choose your own schedule from a wide array of activities. Liberty Place offers a unique lifestyle, allowing residents to maintain their independence with the confidence of knowing our caring team is available with the support they need.
Schedule a tour of Liberty Place today to experience how we can help you get more from post-retirement living.