Kirsten Burt has always wanted to be part of the annual Carnation Fourth of July celebration.
This summer, she has stepped up as a sponsor for the celebration, themed “Here’s to the Red, White and Blue.”
Burt, owner of Lazy K’s restaurant, came to Carnation two years ago.
“When I moved to Carnation, I wanted to be a part of a community,” she said. “I felt the best way to be a part of it was to lead by example.”
Run by the non-profit Carnation Fourth of July committee, the Fourth of July event will be kicking off America’s 234th birthday with a pancake breakfast at Tolt Congregational Church, followed by a traditional patriotic flag raising ceremony in Tolt Commons Park.
The day will also be filled with a children’s and grand parade, the 5K Run for Pies, in which runners compete for prize pies from Carnation’s Remlinger Farms, the Hot Rods and Harleys car and motorcycle show and the first annual “Just Moo It” 3-on-3 basketball tournament.
Other highlights include the vendor village, Sno-Valley Senior Center’s much loved strawberry shortcake and more musical festivities and events for both young and old than you can shake a stick at.
“What’s happened, which is wonderful, is for the first time other businesses are stepping up and sponsoring things,” Burt said. “For me, it’s to show the community that businesses support the community and the community supports the businesses. It’s a common theme for me.”
She sponsored $2,500 worth of fireworks to add on to the American Legion Post 199’s $1,000 worth of booms. The annual fireworks show takes place Sunday night at Tolt MacDonald Park and will be accompanied by the Joe Doe History of Rock Show, who will cover music from the 50s, 60s, 70s and 80s.
“We’re hoping to have a huge dance party down here at the park, with the golf course sponsoring the food vending and beer garden,” Burt said. “The Fourth of July is the best event and most fun day of the year. Hopefully we can just make it fun, funky and people can laugh a little.”
Visitors are encouraged to spend the day in Carnation, see the sights, visit vendors and explore Remlinger Farms.
