What an amazing array of 4th of July celebrations! Under beautiful summer sunshine, the Chamber’s Community Parade on Saturday celebrated the arts, with Grand Marshals Jan and Frank Loudin leading the way. The parade snaked past the Community Band and emcees Ken and Karen Speck. Of the many colorful and entertaining entrants, the Grand Prize went to Matthew Olson’s Orcas Strings students – as they “Celebrated the Arts.”

The chamber’s new “Festival on the 4th” proved a great success! The Village Green was home to an array of family-friendly booths and activities.

With the Community Band providing an evening of patriotic tunes, a large crowd of visitors and islanders gathered at Waterfront Park to watch one of the best fireworks displays we’ve seen on Orcas in many years! The “oohs” and “aahs” continued throughout the show. The fireworks show was possible thanks to the logistical help of Michael Rivkin, and the financial assistance of the community and island visitors.  This year the Chamber of Commerce partnered with sponsors to ensure a show could take place.

2011 sponsors: (Gold Level) Allium Restaurant, Gudgell Properties, Island Market, Lower Tavern, Max Digger Productions, Rosario Resort and Spa and Waterfront Construction; (Silver Level) Cascade Harbor Inn, Country Corner Grocery & Deli, Crow Valley Pottery, Gem Island Services, Landmark Inn, NAPA Auto Parts, New Leaf Café, Orcas Island Family Medicine, Roses, Smuggler’s Villa Resort, Teezer’s, Windermere Orcas Island Real Estate, Village Stop and Doug and Bonnie Bowles; (Bronze Level) Anchorage Inn, Aurora Company, Blue Heron B&B, Chiladas Restaurant, Driftwood Nursery, Eastsound Suites, Eclipse Charters, Kangaroo House B&B, Moon Glow Arts & Crafts, Nest, Olga’s, Orcas Auto-Tech, Orcas Island Hardware, Orcas Island Realty, Orcas Suites, Patina Floral & Planning, Red Rabbit Farm, Right Place Pottery, The Office Cupboard, Turtleback Farm Inn, Wine Shop at Country Corner, Doug and Judy Schliebus and  Richard Hughes, Sr.