Why not celebrate the national holiday locally this year?
Independence Day events will explode all over Highline on Thursday, July 4.

Des Moines is throwing an Independence Day-eve community barbecue. SeaTac is reopening newly renovated Angle Lake Park and hosting a 4-day carnival. Burien is marching along with its traditional parade. Normandy Park is having a down-home celebration with a kids parade and ice cream social. Tukwilians will gather again at Fort Dent Park. Tukwila’s Museum of Flight will offer free evening admission.

As for fireworks, you have your choice of seeing them over the Sound, lake or fort.

Celebrating locally is a lot cheaper than filling up the old gas-guzzler. It’s also easier than traveling afar, especially if you didn’t schedule an extra long holiday weekend and have to trudge back to work Friday morning.

Burien
Nothing is more of a Highline holiday tradition than the Burien Independence Day Parade.
Spirited marching bands, energetic dance teams elaborate floats and vintage cars will swell community pride.
It’s election season so expect to see a lot of familiar elected officials and wannabe electeds.
Co- grand marshals this year are Burien citizens of the year, Michael Noakes and Donna DiFiore. Noakes was cited for his work on an ad hoc committee that forged out a compromise with the state Department of Ecology on an updated Burien Shoreline Master Plan. DiFiore was honored for her lengthy participation on the citizens’ advisory Burien Arts Commission.
The parade begins at 3 p.m. on Ambaum Boulevard Southwest and Southwest 149th Street. The route will head south on Ambaum, east on Southwest 153rd Street, north on 2nd Avenue South and finish going west along Southwest 152nd Street.
The city of Burien and the Southwest King County Chamber of Commerce are event partners.

UPDATE:The annual Joe Matava Memorial Classic Criterium (JMCC) is in its 38th year in 2013. The race will start early in the morning and will extend until just before the annual Burien 4th of July parade. This year, like last, a portion of the proceeds will go to supporting the hand cyclist program for the NW Chapter of the Paralyzed Veterans. A great charity, year round, for the men and women who have served our country and sacrificed; also, what a person can accomplish when they put their mind to it. And if all of this wasn’t enough, there will be a chance for up-and-coming cyclists to participate in a ½ lap kids race. Anyone under 13 will be eligible to participate and will not be charged to enter. So come out and make a day of it and watch some amazing cyclists show what they’ve got!
Go to http://www.luckycausesports.org/JoeMatavaCrit.html for more information.

Des Moines
Residents of Des Moines will start celebrating early with a Classic Community Barbecue Wednesday evening from 6:30-10 p.m. at the Beach Park Auditorium, 22030 Cliff Ave. S. Besides great food, there will be classic cars, a beer garden and live entertainment by the "Fabulous Murphtones."
General admission tickets are $20 general and $15 for seniors and children. Tickets are available online at www.brownpapertickets.com or the city of Des Moines Marina office, located at 22307 Dock Ave. S. For more information or to donate a meal, call 206-824-5700 or email kreynolds@desmoineswa.gov.
The July 3 event is a fundraiser for the July 4th "Fireworks Over Des Moines."
Marina gates open at 5 p.m. for the fireworks festivities. There will be food vendors, beer gardens and much more. The fireworks are set to begin at 10 p.m.
The fireworks event is sponsored by Destination Des Moines and Powell Homes.

Normandy Park
The residents of Normandy Park are opting for a home-grown neighborhood celebration, starting with a noncompetitive 2.8K Fun Run at 10:25 a.m.
Although the run is free, participants are encouraged to pre-register. Runners should assemble by 10:15 a.m. The course begins at Marvista Elementary and ends at Marine View Drive and Shoremont.
The Children’s Parade leaves the Marvista parking lot at 10:30 a.m. Participants may join the parade anywhere along the route. It ends at the Cove building.
The parade usually includes classic cars, floats, wagons, bicycles, strollers and marching bands. However, no campaigning or political signs are allowed.
The Normandy Park Arts Commission will offer prizes to children for the best-decorated bicycles.
The parade ends at the Cove building with a free ice cream social and hot dogs.

SeaTac
Marking the re-opening of Angle Lake Park, 19408 International Blvd. S., after extensive remodeling, SeaTac is expanding its Independence Day celebration this year.
Live musical entertainment sponsored by MasterPark will take place from 1 p.m. until the fireworks show starts at about 10:15 p.m.
Butler Amusements will also host a children’s carnival from 11 a.m. until 11 p.m. Wristbands are $19 per day. The celebration will continue past Thursday night with the carnival running through Sunday, July 7.
Tukwila
Tukwila’s celebration centers on Fort Dent Park, 6800 Fort Dent Way.
The park opens to the public at 9 a.m. with activities beginning at 4 p.m. Free fun for the entire family includes inflatable bouncers and slides, roving clowns and an entertainment stage.
“The Islanders” entertain at 4 p.m., followed by “British Export” at 8:30 p.m.
Park patrons may bring their own picnic to share with family and friends or purchase food from one of the many vendors throughout the festival. BBQ’s are allowed in designated areas only.
Stake out a spot on the lawn and stay to watch the fireworks display at 10 p.m.
Organizers caution that parking is limited at Fort Dent. For more information call 206-768-2822.

Tukwila Museum of Flight
The museum, located at 9404 East Marginal Way, offers free admission after 5 p.m. on the first Thursday of the month. Just because the first Thursday in July is on a holiday doesn’t mean July 4 will be an exception.
As on every Independence Day at the museum, members of Skyway Post 9430 of the Veterans of Foreign Wars honor the nation’s 232nd birthday with a salute to the American flag—all 27 versions that have officially represented the United States over the years.
From the first 13-star flag authorized by Congress in 1777 to today’s 50 star flag, the presentation of each iteration is accompanied with the story of its symbolism in this moving and educational program for all ages.
The program will be presented at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. in the William M. Allen Theater. It is included with museum admission and is free for museum members.