News - Local News

POSTED: Saturday, Jul. 04, 2009

Crowd celebrates Independence Day in Bellingham park

With the sun beaming down and a huge American flag billowing in the breeze, a crowd of people descended on Zuanich Point Park to celebrate their country's independence on Saturday, July 4.

The event on Bellingham Bay provided plenty of food, fun things for kids to do and live music throughout the afternoon.

Many children took turns going down a large inflatable slide while other did color-by-numbers pictures with colored chalk on blackboards.

For the adults, live music, kite flying, food and a beer garden kept them entertained.

The highlight for many, no doubt, came once darkness fell and dazzling fireworks began exploding over Bellingham Bay and across the night sky.

Bellingham resident Evelyn Willis brought Kylie Moullen, a special-needs student at Bellingham High School who she looks after on weekends, to the event to see her classmates perform in a jazz band in the afternoon.

"She loves the music," Willis said. "She was kind of dancing to that."

Willis said she would take Moullen back to the girl's home, where her neighborhood would be hosting a block party and potluck.

Once darkness came, however, Willis said she would return to Zuanich Point with friends to see the fireworks go off.

The afternoon's beautiful weather was a highlight for Willis and Moullen, Willis said.

"We couldn't have asked for anything better," Willis said. "Kylie seems very happy about the day."