Ashland Chamber 4th of July Celebration - Parade

Join us for the 2016 4^th of July Celebration Monday, July 4^th

Thanks to our 2016 Sponsors:

Patriot's Choice:

Stars & Stripes:

Platinum Star:



2016Soulsmile

Gold Star:



   2016Drescher

Silver Star:

Silver Star:Blue Giraffe Day Spa Salon - Ashland Food Coop
Davis, Hearn, Anderson and Turner, PC - Sherwin Williams

This Celebration, now over 100 years old, is what makes Ashland a “great small town to live in.” The event begins with a run organized by the Ashland Parks & Recreation, followed by a Parade enjoyed by over 20,000 spectators each year beginning at 10:00am. After the parade concludes, there are over one hundred booths in Lithia Park featuring food, crafts, information and a Family Activity Zone while bands, including the Ashland City Band, performs all afternoon at the Lithia Park Bandshell. In the evening, enjoy the spectacular Fireworks which are visible all throughout town. Click on the Event Schedule for a complete list of activities that day. This schedule will continue to be updated leading up to the Celebration.

2016 4th of July Theme Announced - Thank you to the Ashland community for submitting theme nominations for the 2016 Old-Fashioned Fourth of July Celebration. The 2016 Fourth of July Planning Committee is excited to announce that this year’s theme will honor the 100^th anniversary of Lithia Park.

Ashland’s Old-Fashioned 4th of July
Celebrating the 100th Anniversary of Lithia Park
1916 – 2016

In 1908, the City of Ashland set aside property on Ashland Creek for development of a city park, authorized a permanent tax levy to fund the park and appointed members of the City’s first Parks Commission. These actions were part of a City Charter Amendment, overwhelmingly adopted by Ashland voters, that “reserved and forever dedicated” city lands bordering Ashland Creek, from the Plaza to the forest reserve, for park purposes. Several years later, John McLaren, the designer and superintendent of Golden Gate Park in San Francisco, was hired to develop a landscape plan. After that work was completed, Lithia Park was formally dedicated over the Independence Day holiday, July 4-6, 1916.

Lithia Park will celebrate its 100 year anniversary on the Fourth of July. Lithia Park is Ashland’s most prominent park as both residents and visitors enjoy its beauty, hiking, youthful playground, running trails, cycling and ice skating in the winter. Lithia Park spans 93-acres and is a place to meet with family and friends for a picnic or a slow stroll through one’s of Ashland’s most beautiful treasures. We are honored to recognize Lithia Park at this year’s Fourth of July Celebration.

Ashland’s Old-Fashioned 4th of July Honors Ashland Parks & Recreation as the 2016 Grand Marshal - The 2016 Celebration of Ashland’s Old-Fashioned 4th of July will recognize four distinguished individuals as Grand Marshals to represent Ashland Parks and Recreation. Each of these individuals have dedicated many hours of service to Lithia Park and our local Parks Department. As this year marks the 100th anniversary of Lithia Park and the event theme for 2016, the Ashland 4th of July Committee and Board of Directors voted to honor the following individuals:

Marge Bernard, Vice-Chair Ashland Parks Foundation – representing the fundraising non-profit established to assist in ensuring parks needs are met.
Michael Black, Director of Ashland Parks & Recreation – representing the long tenure of staff that has cared for the park over the years.
Tom Foster, long time Ashland Resident and Parks Volunteer who helped initiate the Lithia Park Nature Walk Program – representing the many Parks Volunteers who have had the vision and dedication to create and maintain Lithia Park for 100 years.
Mike Gardiner, Chair of the Ashland Parks & Recreation Commission – representing 108 years of dedicated public service from Commissioners.

Please help the Ashland Chamber of Commerce 4th of July Committee recognize these individuals and the groups they represent for their efforts and accomplishments to Ashland Parks and Recreation.

2016 Theme & T-Shirt Winners - The 4th of July Committee has selected a winner and runner-up for the 2016 Theme/T-Shirt Design Contest. The winning design will be featured on the event t-shirts, print and digital publicity. All design entries will be displayed on our website with the artist’s name.

The GRAND PRIZE winner is Jack Wiens

To view all of the entries, click here.

Sponsor the 4^th- The Ashland Chamber of Commerce is able to bring this free event to the community because of the generosity of our sponsors. Consider joining our sponsors in making this event happen! Click here to donate.

Parade and Booth Applications - Booth applications are now available online. Parade applications will be available later this month. If you participated in the event last year, you will automatically receive an application sent to you by email.

Volunteer Opportunities - Each year there are over 100 community members who volunteer for this wonderful event. There are many opportunities to get involved in both leading up to the event and on the day of. If you are interested in volunteering for this event, please contact Kelsey Frantz at (541) 482-3486, ext. 104 or by email, kelsey@ashlandchamber.com. Here are some examples of possible volunteer positions:

Selling t-shirts and providing information at grocery stores – during the weekends of June, the Ashland Chamber will have tables set up at local grocers where volunteers will have event t-shirts available for sale and information about the event details and schedule. Volunteers are needed to help fill these shifts.
Parade Volunteers - on the Fourth of July, many volunteers are needed to help direct parade entries, line them up correctly and help them move down the parade route safely. There are shifts both before and the during the parade. The best seat to watch the parade is being right on the route volunteering!
Parks Volunteers - on the Fourth of July, there are volunteer positions in beautiful Lithia Park directing vendor booths, checking in performers, helping with the Family Zone and providing general information to vendors and patrons. Shifts are available both before and after the parade.
Provide information on the day of – on the Fourth of July, volunteers are needed to help staff that Ashland Chamber’s event information booth. This booth has information about the event schedule, nearby bathroom options and water refilling stations. The booth also has event t-shirts and patriotic items for sale such as flags, beaded necklaces, etc.
Assisting in the Conservation efforts – throughout the afternoon on the Fourth, volunteers partner with Master Recyclers to assist vendors in the park with their recycling needs and check on the Clear Stream recycling centers. They collect cardboard and assist spectators with where their recycling options are. The final shift of these volunteers helps collect the Clear Streams from Lithia Park.
General event support – each segment of the Fourth of July celebration, whether it be the parade or the Lithia Park activities in the afternoon, or cleanup the day after at the Fireworks site, require volunteers to help with the coordination efforts. If you are interested in being a part of the general event team, we would welcome your support.
Fireworks cleanup - What goes up, must come down… Join us on 8:00am on July 5^th with a wonderful group of volunteers who help in picking up the Fireworks Debris on the SOU Athletic Fields. All materials and pick-up sticks are provided.