American Flags and running shoes had locals up and at ‘em this morning in The Dalles as we celebrate the birth of our country. The day is loaded with music, a parade, a corn hole tournament, and, of course, fireworks at 10 p.m. brought to us by the Fort Dalles Fourth volunteers.

While the parade serves as a significant highlight, this year's celebration takes on an added level of excitement with the highly anticipated firework show. As the sun sets on July 4th, families and friends will gather along the banks of the Columbia River, eagerly awaiting the moment when the night sky transforms into a mesmerizing display of colors, patterns, and sparkles.

It’s time to light that fuse.

Patriotism is blowing up all over the Gorge as the towns of the Mid-Columbia are riding the Fourth of July Rocket into a deluge of parades, runs, food, music and good times with our neighbors. The Dalles, Hood River, Goldendale, Cascade Locks, White Salmon, Stevenson, and Skamania County are all offering a charcuterie tray of fun peppered with gunpowder.

Shoes were poppin’ on the Fourth of July in The Dalles as runners lined up for the Rocket Run at Lewis Clark Festival Park at 7 a.m. Harriers put up some good numbers on a picture-perfect morning against the backdrop of the Columbia River along the Riverfront Trail.

We got you covered for all things red, white and blue and rock-n-roll too this weekend. Check out this schedule of fireworks displays and other events for Fourth of July weekend here in The Dalles, Hood River, Goldendale, Stevenson, White Salmon and Cascade Locks. Photo of past Fort Dalles Fourth Fireworks display in The Dalles courtesy Macnab Photography.