Portland Events, Music, Art, Entertainment, Sustainability | PDXPIPELINE.com

2011 marks the 48th year of stunning fireworks at Fort Vancouver! This year is the sesquicentennial of the start of the Civil War, so added fun includes a visit from Abe Lincoln, a Civil War fashion show and black powder demonstrations. USA!

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Related Portland & Oregon July 4th Events / Info:

• Where to Watch Fireworks on July Fourth in Portland + Pictures | Many Suggestions
  
• July 1-3: Fourth of July Specials @ East Burn | $3 Pints, $5 Burger and Fries
• 2,000+ pictures from last year’s Fort Vancouver July 4th event on Flickr here.

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From Fort Vancouver website:
Independence Day at Fort Vancouver presented by Bank of America is Monday, July 4th at the Fort Vancouver National Site. Families will find a full slate of activities culminating with a spectacular fireworks show, the 48th July 4th event at Fort Vancouver. The event is produced by the nonprofit Fort Vancouver National Trust.

Featuring multiple entertainment venues, the July 4th event offers a variety of music, activities and fun for all ages. Most notably, the Heritage Stage presented by The Columbian commemorates the sesquicentennial of the start of the Civil War and features heritage fashion shows, black powder demonstrations, musical performances including Misty Mamas and even an appearance by Abe Lincoln. The nearby Hands-on-History Tent provides opportunities for visitors to learn handicrafts and games from the Civil War era.

Fort Vancouver Fireworks Show Schedule of Events:

Event hours: Gates open at 8 a.m. Entertainment, games and vendors open at noon. At 4 p.m. Fred Meyer's Patriotic Parade begins. Also at 4 p.m. the Waste Connections' Fireworks Prime Viewing Area opens. Beginning at 10:05 p.m. the fireworks are launched from Pearson Field.

Fireworks: Using state-of-the-art fireworks synchronized to music, the display again will be launched from historic Pearson Field, providing visitors to the Fort Vancouver National Site an exciting fireworks show. Fireworks will not be as visible from other locations.

Fireworks Prime Viewing Area and Prime Viewing Stage: The Waste Connections' Fireworks Prime Viewing Area, located south of Pearson Air Museum, includes a catered picnic dinner, live music and front-row seats to the spectacular fireworks show. The Prime Viewing Stage opens at 4 p.m. and features a line-up of live music until the fireworks begin. Prime viewing tickets are $50 for adults 21 and up, $25 for ages 6 to 20 and free for ages 5 and under.

Admission: A nominal admission fee helps make the event economically sustainable. Children ages 12 and under are admitted at no charge. People ages 13 and older can purchase $5 tickets before midnight on July 3. Tickets at the gate for ages 13 and older will be $7 per person.

Purchasing tickets: Save $2 per ticket by purchasing tickets in advance. Purchase tickets online at www.FortVan.org, in person at the Fort Vancouver Bookstore or the Pearson Air Museum Bookstore or purchase from a community group selling tickets as a fundraiser. On July 4th beginning at 8 a.m., tickets can be purchased at each of the four gates presented by Les Schwab.

Main Stage: Entertainment begins at noon with PEMCO Insurance's Sing 4th Teen vocal competition, followed by a line-up of live music until the fireworks begin at 10:10 p.m. Family Entertainment at the Parade Ground Bandstand (gazebo): Beginning at noon, children can participate in competitions of traditional children's games including three-legged races, gunny sack races and hula hoop contests. Teens can enjoy live music, crafts, water balloon competitions and a dollar cage.

Heritage Stage presented by The Columbian: Entertainment begins at noon and includes black powder demonstrations, heritage fashions, old-time fiddlers, Scottish country dancing, Abe Lincoln, Civil War campaign songs and bluegrass. Between acts, community leaders will recite excerpts from historical documents and speeches.

Additional family fun: Visitors can join free, guided walking tours of Officers Row and Vancouver Barracks. To make the event more enticing for budget-crunched families, Pearson Air Museum will reduce its regular $22 family admission to only $5 for two adults and up to four children. Family admission to the reconstructed Fort Vancouver also is $5. Visitors can bring a picnic or partake of a variety of food vendors. The adult beverage pavilion will offer domestic beer, microbrews, wine and more. Bi-plane rides will be offered at Pearson Airport for a fee.

Getting there: From 6 p.m. until 8:30 p.m., C-Tran will run shuttles to the event every 15 minutes from the north side of Westfield Vancouver Mall. Paid parking lots will be available to the east and west of the Fort Vancouver National Site. All downtown metered parking is free for the holiday. Bicyclists can bike to the event and leave their bikes at monitored bike parking.