Join Orcas Island Chamber of Commerce for a festive Fourth of July celebration

||| FROM CAREY ESKRIDGE for ORCAS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE |||

What Does the Orcas Island Chamber of Commerce Do?
The core mission of the Orcas Island Chamber’s is to promote, support, and develop the island’s business and economic interests. Here on Orcas, our community and commerce are tightly knit. Every shop, restaurant, and service are owned by our neighbors, family, and friends. We don’t have big box stores; instead, we rely on each other to thrive.

Why Support Local Businesses?
Did you know that 67 cents of every dollar spent locally stays in the community? Supporting local businesses means supporting jobs, wages, and the vibrancy of our island. It keeps our shops and restaurants open and sustains our farmers. The same applies to the artists, solopreneurs, and the trades and craftspeople who make Orcas special.

Supporting local business even helps our schools, non-profits, and the arts. How? Businesses on Orcas are some of the primary sponsors and donors for our vibrant community organizations and school extra-curriculars. Keeping our money local helps our unique community flourish.

Why Host a Fourth of July Picnic and Market?
But another vital part of the Chamber’s mission is to enrich the quality of life on the island—and sometimes that means just having fun together! Now in its third year, the Fourth of July 5K Fun Run and Community Picnic are an excellent way for us to come together and celebrate community with food, music, and good vibes. You may have noticed a pattern of togetherness in our themes these past few years. The theme this year is “Whole Lotta Love.”

How Can You Join the Fun?
Head to Eastsound on the Fourth of July! Enjoy a day filled with local market vendors, delicious food, and entertainment. Participate in the internationally renowned cakewalk, our chili cook-off, pie-baking contest, or just hang out and take it all in! You can start the day with the Firecracker 5K Fun Run and end it dancing to music on the Green.

However you choose to enjoy the celebration, please consider supporting our community events fund with a donation: https://oicf.fcsuite.com/erp/donate/create/fund?funit_id=1061 This fund helps us host events throughout the year, including our Eastsound Halloween and Holiday on the Green Tree Lighting ceremony.

Weekend Highlights:
Friday, July 4

• 8 a.m. – Firecracker 5K Fun Run/Walk (Register here)
• Noon – 9 p.m. – Community Picnic and Market on the Village Green. Enjoy food and market vendors, a cakewalk, kids’ activities, beer and wine, chili cook-off, pie baking contest, and more!

Live Music:

• WildChild at 3 p.m.
• DJ Set by Lilo Sanchez at 5 p.m.
• Zoso: The Ultimate Led Zeppelin Experience from 7 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Saturday, July 5

• 7 – 11 a.m. – Orcas Island Fire and Rescue Pancake Breakfast @ Eastsound Fire Hall
• 11 a.m. – Community Band performance at A Street and North Beach Rd
• Noon – Annual Community Parade honoring Grand Marshal Lisa Byers, Executive Director of OPAL Community Land Trust
• 1:30 – 4 p.m. – Antique Car show presented by Gordy’s Automotive on North Beach Rd
• 1:30 p.m. – Children’s House Mayoral election results announced on the Village Green
• 4 – 7 p.m. – Lion’s Club Salmon BBQ @ Eastsound Fire Hall

Sunday, July 6

• 5 p.m. – Orcas Center Free Summer Concert Series Live on the Village Green, featuring Fritz Gearheart, Robert Sarazin Blake, and The Litch Brothers

Get Involved!
Visit our event website for more details and registration for the Firecracker 5K, chili cook-off, pie-baking contest, and parade.

Registration deadlines are:

• Parade: Registration closes Wednesday, July 3 at 5 p.m.
• Chili Cook-Off & Pie Baking: Registration closes Tuesday, July 2 at 5 p.m.
• 5K Fun Run: Online registration closes Wednesday, July 3 at midnight; day of registration closes 15 minutes before race time.

Thank You to Our Generous Sponsors and Partners
Without support from the community and our business members, these events simply would not happen. A very special thank you to our event sponsors Brown Bear Baking and Island Market whose generosity and commitment to community will help keep this tradition alive for years to come. Thank you also to our title sponsors The Exchange, Orcas Center, Orcas Events, Doe Bay Resort, the Lower Tavern, Island Life, Ray’s Pharmacy and General Store, OI Rental Car, The Orcas Hotel, Cafe Aurora, Olga Rising, Sweetcraft Bakeshop, Lascaux Café, Hops on the Rock Beer Festival, Orcas Isle Cidery, The Orcas Project, Pike Brewing Company, Fremont Brewing, and Ace Hardware.

Thanks to our promotional partners KISM 92.9FM, San Juan Air, The Islands’ Sounder, and The Office Cupboard.

And special thanks to our Charter Members—Island Market, Orcas Island Realty, Sew and Sew Embroidery, and Puget Sound Cooperative Credit Union—whose continued commitment makes it possible for us to offer programming and services that uplift local businesses and strengthen our island community year-round.

Join us for a memorable weekend of celebration and community spirit. We can’t wait to see you there!