Many choices for fun on July 4th on Lopez

Lopez Island Lions Club Fourth of July Fun Run/Walk

The 4th of July celebration on Lopez begins with the Fun Run/Walk, sponsored by the Lopez Lions Club. The event takes place on scenic courses through a pastoral setting with water views. The shirts have a Lopez Island scene. Enjoy the parade and other 4th of July activities in the village following the awards. All three courses are electronically timed, start and end in Lopez Village, are mildly challenging, and have a long, gradual downhill finish. The 10K course is point-to-point; the 5K and 1-mile courses are out and back. Unique Lopez awards are given to the first overall male and female finisher in the 10K, 5K Run, 5K Walk, and 1-mile events. Awards are also given to the first three male and female finishers in each age division in the 5K and 10K events.

The race starts at Banner Bank, 45 Weeks Road.

Community parade

The annual 4th of July Parade, also sponsored by the Lopez Lions Club, kicks off at 11 a.m. Observe the parade along Fisherman Bay Road winding through the Village on Lopez Road, and ending at Week’s Road and Fisherman Bay Road.

Friends of The Lopez Library Annual Book Sale

The books are back at Lopez Center on from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Books by the handful, books by the bagful, books on every subject from feeding your aardvark to toasting your zwieback, from picture books for the youngest readers to tomes of great literature for those who finally have time on Slopez to read. Every book sold benefits a program for the public at the Lopez Island Library. Each book sold was donated to the Friends of the Library by a generous reader on Lopez who loves their library!

Last year’s book sale by the Friends of the Lopez Library funded a wide variety of programs and activities for the public, reaching all ages and backgrounds. Just a few programs from that long list were Mushroom Cultivation, Crafternoon workshops, Latino family literacy, Reading Rangers tutoring, Seattle Arts and Lectures virtual series, Citizen Science, Teen Workshops, Nature Journaling, Teddy Bear Picnic, Local Author talks, Children’s Storytime, and Unicorn Appreciation Day. While your property taxes support staff salaries and regular operations, the Friends provide funds from the Book Sale and tax deductible donations to support community programs and assistance with unexpected expenses such as the recent fire detection system overhaul.

Everyone loves the Library! Come on down to Lopez Center on the Fourth of July, grab a red bag to fill to the brim with pre-loved books, browse the Friends of the Library Merchandise table and meet your island neighbors. See you there!

Fireworks show at dusk

The annual fireworks display, presented by the Lopez Community Fireworks Display Committee, starts at 10:15 p.m. What makes this celebration a resounding success year after year are the incredible volunteers and the generosity of the local businesses, individuals, and families who all pitch in to make the festivities happen. It’s a heartwarming example of what a tight-knit community can do when they work together.