Photo Story: Independence Day 2023
Todd Kepple, Manager of the Klamath County Museum pilots a vintage tractor in the Klamath Falls Independence Day parade on July 4, 2023. (Image: Brian Gailey)
Due to construction at the fairgrounds, Independence Day festivities returned to Downtown Klamath Falls for the first time in years. This included an extraordinary fireworks display over Lake Ewauna. (Image: Garrett Steensland)
KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. - Independence Day 2023 in Klamath Falls was filled with traditions and a few changes; all beginning with a pair of F-15 Eagles from the 173rd Fighter Wing flying over downtown at 10:00 AM sharp to signal the start of the parade.
The parade started with a KFPD police escort and Color Guard. Featured participants included Airmen from Kingsley Field, motorcycles from the CVMA & CMA, Miss. Klamath County & Miss. City of Sunshine, Hilla Shriners and the Tin Lizzies, Klamath County Museum, Klamath County Fire District 1, among others.
The late Doug Brown, founder of the Klamath Freedom Foundation and organizer of almost all public patriotic events of the last decade was honored as Grand Marshal of the parade.
Festivities continued in the evening with a street fair with vendors, food trucks, and bounce houses at Veterans Park. Live music was on stage by King of Denial and Arthur Buezo. The day was then capped off with an extraordinary fireworks display from a fleet of barges over Lake Ewauna.
This would be the first time in many years that all Independence Day festivities would be held downtown. The move was made due to construction at the fairgrounds.
KFN Was fortunate to have a pair of photographers capture some amazing images at both the parade and fireworks display.
