Redmond Plans Massive Celebration for Country's 250th Anniversary - The Source

When it comes to celebrating the 250^th anniversary since the Declaration of Independence was signed, the City of Redmond is not holding back.

A massive extravaganza on Fourth of July weekend will feature thousands of free hot dogs and red, white and blue snow cones plus a $20,000 fireworks show in what appears to be the largest semi-quincentennial event across Central Oregon.

“It is the 250^th anniversary of our country going back to the Declaration of Independence,” Redmond Mayor Ed Fitch told the Source on Thursday. “Why wouldn’t you want to have a huge celebration for that?”

Like a typical Fourth of July in Redmond, a parade will commence downtown, and later a fireworks show will take place at the Deschutes County Fairgrounds. But this year’s display will be a little longer and a little tighter, with a quicker cadence of explosions, said Chuck Arnold, the City’s economic development and urban renewal program manager, who is planning the event for the City.

On July 3, a block party will commence with music, vendors, games, a pet costume contest, a pie baking contest and reenactments of Redmond history before elected officials give their thoughts on the celebration of America’s 250^th, Arnold said.

“During the event we’ll be serving those hot dogs for free until everyone has had their fill,” Arnold said. “The snow cones are going to be churning out as quick as possible. They can churn them out at 400 per hour.”

The event is produced by Lay It Out Events, a sister company of the Source.

Redmond’s festivities come amid friction at the national level between two initiatives orchestrating events for the anniversary: America 250, a commission established by Congress in 2016, which has organized charity drives and a nationwide block party; and Freedom 250, President Donald Trump’s initiative which includes events like a UFC fight at the White House and an IndyCar race in Washington D.C.

Bend, Central Oregon’s largest city, doesn’t have anything special planned for the 250^th anniversary, according to Jacob Larsen, a spokesperson for the City. The usual festivities including Bend Park & Recreation’s Pet Parade and the fireworks show on Pilot Butte, which is run by a private entity, Larsen said.

Redmond’s block party will cost $25,000, Arnold said. But most of it’s being covered by local corporate and business sponsors. The Redmond Municipal Airport will pay for the fireworks show at the fairgrounds, Arnold said.

Redmond Fire & Rescue will be ready to stamp out brush fires that might start from falling embers, said Tom Mooney, fire marshal with Redmond Fire & Rescue.

Meanwhile, there may be other fireworks popping off across Redmond. The City allows personal fireworks on the Fourth of July, but not any other day of the year. The Redmond City Council passed the year-round ban last fall. In the days leading up to the Fourth last year, teens with fireworks sparked a blaze in the brush of the Dry Canyon, a large natural park running through the middle of town. The blazed forced evacuations before crews slapped it down. The next day, Redmond passed an emergency ban on fireworks, which took effect on midnight after the Fourth of July.

Central Oregon’s hot weather and dry vegetation have led other cities, like Bend, to ban personal fireworks. On June 16, Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek declared a preemptive state of emergency due to the “imminent threat of wildfire.”

“We recognize the fire situation we got this summer,” Fitch told the Source. “But I also think it’s important for than one day of the summer that people be able to celebrate the Fourth as we have historically.”

He said he hopes people will use fireworks responsibly.

Mooney said only legal fireworks are allowed in Redmond, and urged people to douse smoldering fireworks with water to ensure they don’t start accidental fires.

“It is the Fourth of July and It is the 250^th celebration, but if you’re going to use fireworks, you can only use Oregon legal fireworks,” Mooney said. “Leave the big stuff to the professionals at the fairgrounds.”

Editor’s note: This article has been corrected. A previous version misstated the date of the block party. The Source regrets the error.