Red, White and Blue Festival brings music, fun run and parade

By THERESA HOGUE

Gazette-Times reporter

Independence Day celebrations kick off a day early in Corvallis with the start of the two-day Red White & Blue Riverfront Festival. Known in years past as the Red, White & Blues festival, this year the event has added more diverse musical styles, including more rock and bluegrass in addition to rhythm and blues.

In addition to live music, visitors to Corvallis' Riverfront Park can take in a parade, take part in a 5K run, and enjoy fresh local fare from street booths, Oregon microbrews and local wines.

Corvallis' annual Fourth of July get-together, the event will begin at 5 p.m. today with Chris "Hammer" Smith. He'll be followed by the Ben Rice Blues Band at 8 p.m.

The Fourth of July on Friday officially begins with the 2008 Red, White and Blue Riverfront Festival 5K Fun Run/Walk, beginning at 9 a.m. Preregistration ends today at Five Star Sports, 219 S.W. Madison Ave. Cost is $3, and jumps to $5 on race day. Proceeds benefit the Crescent Valley and Corvallis High Schools' cross country teams.

The fun continues with the All American, Fabulous, Fantastic, Anyone-Can-Join Fourth of July Parade, which starts at 10 a.m. at Central Park.

Participants are invited to assemble at 9:15 a.m. The route proceeds east along Monroe Avenue from Eighth Street to First Street, then south along First Street to Adams Avenue, then west one block to Second Street, where it continues south to the skate park.

Independence Day music begins at 11 a.m. with Wild Hog Gumbo and continues with Caught in the Act at 1:30 p.m., Creighton Lindsay at 4:30 p.m. and The Ty Curtis Band at 7:30 p.m. All performances take place at Riverfront Park, and all performers are from Oregon.

The annual fireworks display begins at 10 p.m. Friday night, near the Oregon State University crew docks along the Willamette River. The best viewing for the show, which is sponsored by the Corvallis Jaycees, is along First Street from Tyler Avenue to Van Buren Boulevard. Drivers are warned not to park on Highway 34 east of Corvallis tomorrow, or along the Highway 34 bypass. The area will be patrolled and illegally parked vehicles will be ticketed and towed.

Admission to the Red White and Blue festival is free, but anyone willing to give a $5 donation will receive patriotic beads and light-up pins. The event is sponsored by the Downtown Corvallis Association.

In addition to food and wine booths, the festival will include a craft fair, kids activities and a dunk tank featuring local celebrities.

Theresa Hogue can be contacted at theresa.hogue@lee.net or 758-9526.