Stars and Stripes Auction raises $19,000 for fireworks show

MANSON - Each year the Manson Chamber of Commerce hold the Stars and Stripes Dinner and Auction to raise the necessary funds needed for the  annual Fourth of July fireworks show.  This year a little under $19,000 were raised during the June 22 event, that’s $4,000 more than last year’s fundraising efforts. With this year’s 40-year celebration raising more money for the show was critical as $5,000 was spent on the fireworks.

Jeff Conwell of the Manson Chamber of Commerce stated that the success of the event was due to the great support from the community members. “It was a great night of fun and of people giving and giving,” said Conwell. The silent auction featured 95 items, and another few items were live auctioned. Big contributors to the show include Town Toyota Center, Food Services of America and local community members such as Hard Row to Hoe, England Chiropractic along with the Manson Fire Department.

The big 40-year celebration will kick off with a fly-over of two U.S. Navy F-18 fighter jets from NAS Whidbey Island. The F-18s will perform at a low altitude and a low speed at 1 p.m. over Manson Bay. Following the fly-over, SkyDive Chelan’s parachuter will jump off with an American flag along with smoke jumpers. “They will jump from above 5,000 feet. It is going to be so much fun,” said Conwell. He also mentioned that weather permitting, they will be jumping more than once.

In charge of  entertaining the crowd at Manson Bay will be the LakeBoys. They will be performing from 7 p.m. up to the first launch of the fireworks. At 10:15 p.m. sharp the Lake Chelan Valley’s 4th of July Fireworks show over Manson Bay will begin to boom. It promises to be “the largest show in Eastern Washington” and it expected to last 20 minutes.

Conwell encourages all who will be attending the show to park at Leffler Field. “It’s an easy right turn if you are trying to get out of town ... we got five acres of open land to park your car,” he said.

As a reminder, on July 4, Pedoi St. will be closed off to traffic and will be  a good viewing spot. “You can’t get there early enough, it will be crowded. I am expecting record crowds for this event,” stated Conwell.

Fourth of July weekend events in the valley
MANSON- The Manson Marina RC Boat Club will be racing two times on July 4, once at 10 a.m. and again later that day at Manson Bay Marina. They would love to have as my spectators as possible, so come out and enjoy the family-fun races.

MANSON - The 40th Annual Fireworks Show will start at 10:15 p.m. on July 4 at Manson Bay Park. The fireworks are staged from a barge anchored in Manson Bay so viewers can enjoy the beauty of our community while waiting for the show to begin at nightfall.

CHELAN - On July 6, head down to the lake with your family, watch the fireworks light up the sky in a variety of colors and hear the “ooh’s and ahh’s ” from the crowd as each firework explodes in the sky. Suggested places to enjoy the show are at Don Morse Park and Lakeside Park. The show begins at 10 p.m.

MANSON - Manson Kiwanis will hold their annual chicken barbecue on Sunday, July 7, Noon to 4 p.m. at the Manson Grange Hall. On the menu is half a chicken, Leo England's famous cole slaw, baked beans and bread, all for $10.