Last year’s visitors spread the word–this year we’ll need to reserve an entire picnic table to hold our visiting 4th of July crowd!

“I bet Lake Oswego has more kids that come back for the 4th of July than any other small town,” proclaimed my daughter the other day as we finished talking to yet another twentysomething who said he was flying home for the holiday (from Texas).

Add him to the plus 15 that my son is bringing from San Francisco and Philadelphia (this is up from four last year) and the four cousins coming up from Orange County, and you could say she just might be right.

The 4th of July in Lake Oswego has that effect on people. They want to be a part of it. They want to feel like there is something to celebrate and people to celebrate with. They want to get swept up in small town Americana at its patriotic best. And that’s what Lake Oswego dishes up beginning the day before. Here’s what to look for.

●Skiboard and Wakeboard Show. Grab a viewing spot of the action in Lakewood Bay at Sundeleaf Plaza, Stickmen’s Brewery & Skewery, the Lake Theatre and Café, or Millennium Plaza Park on Sunday, July 3 from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

●Portland Waterski Spectacular. Check out the stunts and the showmanship as these skiers dazzle you on the water in Lakewood Bay, Sunday, July 3 at 5:00 p.m.

●Millennium Concert Band. Get in the flag-waving mood with your patriotic favorites on Sunday, July 3, beginning at 7:00 p.m. at Millennium Plaza Park.

●Lions Club Pancake Breakfast. This is the one time of the year my wife eats pancakes so they must be good (and her are gluten-free)! Early birds make sure they get the marionberry syrup. Line starts forming at 7:00 p.m. and grows until closing time at 12:00 noon. George Rogers Park, 611 S. State Street.

●Star Spangled Parade and Celebration. What kid doesn’t love a parade? Apparently none in Lake Oswego as it seems every child under the age of 10 is either walking down A Avenue or cheering those on who are. Parade begins at 10:00 a.m. and finishes at Millennium Plaza Park with a Star Spangled Celebration…and pie eating contest at 12:00 noon. Things wrap up at 1:30.

●Lake Oswego Corporation Boat Parade. Where else can you see one parade on land and one on water all in the same day?! Boats will leave from Lake Grove Swim Park at 3800 Lakeview Boulevard at 12:00 noon. While you’re there, reserve your spot for fireworks viewing later that night.

●Fireworks Show. The show begins around 9:45 p.m. on the west end of Oswego Lake so best to be at the Lake Grove Swim Park, on the Oswego Canal bridge, in a boat on the lake, or at a lakefront party if you can get an invite.

If any of your out-of-town guests fall in love with Lake Oswego while they’re here, and want to explore buying a home, give me a call at 503.939.9801 or check out my website. I’d love to show them around!