Post navigation

Prev: (06/30/15) | Next: (06/30/15)

Where to see fireworks from Capitol Hill, USA! 239th birthday + 13th Annual Cal Anderson Park Independence Day Picnic edition


My country, tis of thee, sweet land of Liberty — and many other fine craft cocktail bars.

(Images: Andrew Ahlstrom and Alex Garland for CHS)

(Image: Andrew Ahlstrom for CHS)

In the true spirit of America, this post is assembled annually by an algorithmically controlled robot drone that adjusts for witty references to current weather conditions and is programmed for sly inclusion of timely cultural references. It also features a self-correcting typo replacement system that slowly improves the quality of this post over time. This year, we have also plugged in the dataset describing the annual Cal Anderson Independence Day Picnic. You won’t find fireworks there — but you will find all of this almost completely free fun:

10850000_939848332704735_1418089447549648979_n (1)The most fun FREE community party of the summer. Brought to you by theCal Anderson Park Alliance, this totally FREE, inclusive for families of all types event is the epicenter of fun. Plus, it ends early enough for you to get to your fireworks viewing situation. Bring your Dads, Moms, kids, dogs on a leash, friends, lovers, hula hooping neighbor, parrot, cat on a leash, cute new date, babies, co-worker, bike polo playing friends, ping pong enthusiasts, favorite bartender and/or people who like burritos.

Come for the old-timey Pie Eating Contest and Patriotic Face Painting. Stay for:

SweetBumpas will be in the house! With multiple flavors of free ice cream and one sorbet!
Free Yoga Classes 11am and 12pm by Next Door Yoga
Free Patriotic Portraits by illustrator Elaine Lin.
Balloon Artistry
Free Root Beer Tasting Garden
Free Hot Dog Feast by the Capitol Hill Chamber of Commerce

Main Stage Performances by The Not Its, Heatwarmer, Tangerine and More!

Poi Spinning and Hula Hooping Lessons 1:00, 2:00pm
Arts and Crafts
Contests
Games with Hugo House
Activities with Sustainable Capitol Hill
Crawl on a Real Fire Truck.

Face Painting by Amelia Anne Flores Ireland and Marjorie Austin Flores.

SO MUCH MORE!

Join us this 4th of July for the amazing, phenomenal and totally FREE Cal Anderson Park Alliance Independence Day Picnic. You will see a marching band.

(Image from Summit and Republican: Jessica Hana)

(Image from Summit and Republican: Jessica Hana)

Where to watch the fireworks
Capitol Hill is a hill. And because it is a hill, it rises above things that are below including Lake Union, home target of Seattle’s annual 4th of July fireworks barrage. Here are some ideas on where you can watch the display with your closest neighborhood pals without leaving said Capitol Hill. Here is what it looked like up here last year. Happy America 2015!

  • The Lake Union fireworks show typically begin around 10:10 PM. You can tune in to 97.3 FM for a simulcast or bring your own brass band.
  • The prime Capitol Hill-connected viewing zone stretches along our northwest edge above Eastlake.
  • Lakeview Boulevard E, just north of the Belmont-Eastlake I-5 overpass is a great, crowded, and fun place to watch.
  • Do not try to park anywhere in the area. You will fail.
  • One nearby resident asks: “Please, please, PLEASE take your trash with you: there people that live here and have to clean up the next day.” And adds this important note: “Also: don’t pee on our fence. C’mon!” To which we reply: “But this is America!”
  • The Lakeview overpass is usually closed to cars and pedestrians during the show. This Eastlake Ave map is old (and getting older!) but it shows an overview of the streets in the area during the show:8445376043_5d0f759ace_b-1-400x537 (1)
  • Prior to past 4ths, SPD has made a special plea for one of the most popular western edge viewing spots:
    [O]fficers need your help keeping the intersection of Belmont Ave and Bellevue Pl. E. clear for emergency vehicles. In recent years, the intersection has become a popular spot during 4th Festivities, which is problematic as it’s also a direct link between Lakeview and South Lake Union. Please help police keep the street clear this year.
  • SPD also reminds that possession of fireworks in Seattle is against the law and that police would prefer you do NOT call 911 to report fireworks and loud bangs during the holiday.
  • It’s also been so hot and dry that your bottle rocket is going set the planting strip bark on fire. So no bottle rocket.

More Capitol Hill viewpoints and tips

  • Nearby Bellevue Place Park
  • Side streets off 10th Ave E like E Boston or E Lynn
  • There’s good views around the corner by the Roanoke. You can even cover your drinks with a coaster while you go watch the show and they’ll still be there when you get back. Also pong.”
  • Various peek-a-boo views from the I-5 Shores area of the Hill
  • On the east edge of the Hill around 22nd and Galer affords a view of various Eastside displays.
  • Parks will leaves fields like Bobby Morris lit through the night to discourage shenanigans that would damage the artificial sports grass.
  • And, no matter where you decide to watch from, remember these words of wisdom from the CHS comments: “The view here is stellar, but please don’t leave your trash all over my neighborhood when you’re done watching shit blow up.”
Subscribe and support CHS Contributors -- $1/$5/$10 per month

1 Comment
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
House Plant.
House Plant.
8 years ago

So is it legal to grow one of these plants at home yet?