There’s a reason why my now-23 year old son is giving up a week of his sacred vacation days to ensure he is in Lake Oswego, Oregon for the Fourth of July.

My 23 year old son is very stingy with his days off. They are usually reserved for weekend getaways to visit friends in exciting places like Newport Beach, Las Vegas, and Tahoe. But he is taking a whole week off to ensure he will be in Lake Oswego, Oregon, for the Fourth of July.

Is he as patriotic as Uncle Sam? Probably not, but he likes to have a good time and with all that’s planned, he figured Lake Oswego is where he wanted to be.

●Lake Oswego Lions Club Pancake Breakfast. Every year I swear I’m only going to eat the two sausage patties the Lions Club volunteers give me to go along with my plate-sized, fluffy pancakes, and every year I go back for seconds. Get there early if you want the marionberry syrup…it starts running low after 10 a.m. Hours: 7:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. George Rogers Park.

●Star Spangled Celebration and Parade. If you thought the ocean was blue, check out this sea of red, white and blue, making its way down A Avenue. They come by stroller, bicycle, wagon, baby carrier, on foot, with a few “floats” thrown in to bring out the candy tossers. Hours: 9:00 a.m. staging at Lake Garden Court; 10:00 a.m. parade begins.

●Celebration at Millennium Plaza Park. The party just continues all day, changing location along the way. Millennium Plaza Park is the site of live music, face-painting, a pie-eating contest and the Lions Club Barbecue. Hours: 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

●Lake Corporation Boat Parade. Fourth of July parades come by land and by water in Lake Oswego. Boats decorated to the theme of “Favorite Team” will depart from the Lake Grove Swim Park viewing area at 1:oo p.m. Check them out. There will be live music and prizes awarded.

●Fireworks on the Lake. What better way to end the perfect day than by viewing fireworks shooting off over the west end of Oswego Lake to the “ooh’s” and “ahhh’s” of spectators on land and on water. 9:45 p.m.

What’s your favorite excuse for being in Lake Oswego for the Fourth of July? Leave your comment here.

See you at the pancake breakfast!