Fireworks are expected to start at 10 PM.
A crew of 8 – 10 people spend 2 – 3 days loading the barge and placing the mortars for the show.
Shells range from 3″ up to 10″ and are fired from a barge off the north end of Jetty Island.
A look from the firing shed onto the barge from 2021.
The Barge loaded with the Fireworks show is moved into position before last year’s show.
Savanna Woods and Eden will be celebrating the release of their new album with a live show from 8 – 10 PM just prior to the Fireworks show at Legion Park.
Again this year they will orchestrate Everett’s July 4th Thunder on the Bay Fireworks Show set to launch right around 10 PM near the north end of Jetty Island and the mouth of the Snohomish River.
Heather grew up in the family business and is the fourth generation of her family to own the company. She recently brought in her son as the fifth generation for Western Display Fireworks now celebrating their 75th year.
The company will do 200 shows this year across Washington, Oregon and Idaho. In addition to the Thunder on the Bay in Everett they will be running the 4th of July Fireworks show over Lake Union in Seattle and the Firework display over Commencement Bay in Tacoma.
For Everett, a crew of eight to ten people work to assemble the show on a barge in a secure location. They begin a couple of days before the 4th, setting the mortars in precise locations on the barge and will load three thousand pounds of fireworks which will be launched off over the course of eighteen minutes.
“It’s really a blending of science, art and technology,” Heather told me. “We’ve re-vamped our inventory, bringing in new suppliers and getting new products and varieties from existing suppliers many of which are made here in America.”
The show features a variety of shells with the largest being ten inches in diameter. There are a number of eight inch and smaller shells as well, all precisely timed and fired by computer.
Some of the new items this year include what are called “Movement Shells” that launch and then break into individual stars in purple, red and other colors and “move” across the sky.
There’s the “Shell of Shells” which are larger shells with many smaller shells inside that open like pedals of a flower and the finale is filled with custom “Made-in America” long-duration shells designed for maximum visual impact especially over water.
“It’s so rewarding to be able to have my family doing this business for seventy-five years,” Heather said. “To see how happy it makes people.”
To view the show you should be in place by 10:00 PM. The City of Everett has put together this great Fireworks Viewing List.
Legion Memorial Park
Legion Memorial Park is Everett’s place to be on the Fourth of July. The park’s overlook offers outstanding views of the waterfront and the fireworks show. There’s a festival at the park with live music, food trucks and a beer garden so if crowds aren’t your thing, then this isn’t for you. Another detail to note is that there’s no parking at Legion Memorial Park on July 4. It’s no problem though, there’s a free shuttle that’ll get you there. Park at Everett Community College and catch the bus just outside of the Walt Price Fitness Center on Tower Street.
Grand Avenue Park
Everett’s Grand Avenue Park overlooks the waterfront and is another popular firework viewing location. The recent addition of the Grand Avenue Park pedestrian bridge is a game changer; it connects the Grand Avenue Park to the Port of Everett and offers a whole new viewing angle for the fireworks. Expect this spot to be hoppin’. You’ll likely have to park and walk a bit, and there are no restroom facilities or entertainment.
Port of Everett
The Port of Everett (aka Everett’s waterfront) is the closest you can get to the fireworks and it is massive! There’s tons of fun things to do and places to eat. It can be a bit of a madhouse down there on the Fourth, but the Port’s new parking management company is all dialed in and ready to help guests get in and out with ease. Please note that there’s a $5 parking fee during special events, so carpool if you can.
If you don’t want to pay a parking fee, park near Grand Avenue Park and walk down via the brand new fancy-schmancy pedestrian bridge.
Harborview Park
Everett’s Harborview Park is kind of far from the fireworks, but still offers a good view of the show. Being that it’s further away than Grand or Legion parks, it’s a little less crowded and that might be just what you’re after. Parking is limited and there are no restroom facilities.
Park at Everett Community College and Ride Everett Transit’s Free Shuttle to and from Legion Park
The shuttle from Everett Community College is a popular option for getting to and from Legion Park.
• Everett Transit is offering FREE shuttle service to and from Legion Memorial Park when you park at Everett Community College. Shuttles begin running at 3 p.m. and run every 5 minutes. If you need ADA accessibility, schedule your Paratransit shuttle service by calling (425) 257-8801.
Learn more about getting to Legion Park and explore our shuttle and parking maps:
Tune into the soundtrack
Our media partners KXA/KRKO have helped put together a great soundtrack for the fireworks show. During the fireworks tune your radio to listen on KXA FM 101.1 or AM 1520.
June 30, 2023
Events in Everett, Everett