Another Grand Old Fourth in the Bag, All-Comers Track Meet Begins Tonight, Rotary Accepting Donations Thru Wednesday

Kevin Dwyer | Posted on July 6, 2026 |

It felt like it went by in a blur, Bainbridge Island’s biggest and brightest celebratory weekend: the 3rd of July Street Dance, followed by the Grand Old Fourth of July. As the old saw says, “A picture is worth a 1,000 words.”

And that’s never been more true when describing kids painting Winslow Way with chalk, adults dancing to familiar tunes, Beer, Wine and Cider gardens, all kinds of food being consumed, a traditional Pancake breakfast, Classic Cars, more soothing and inspiring music, kid zones, a Street Fair, and, of course, the mile-long parade, featuring a cross-section of Bainbridge non-profits, organizations, businesses, bands and Barbershop quartets, Little Leaguers, and, not to be forgotten: politicians.

It’s not a stretch of the imagination to say, a fun time was had by all!

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Kiwanis Club’s All-Comers Track Meet Begins Tonight at Bainbridge High School

One of the Kiwanis Club of Bainbridge Island’s signature annual events – The All-Comers Track Meet – begins tonight, July 6, at the Bainbridge High School track. Registration for the free event – aimed for runners of all ages – begins at 5:30 p.m., with races starting at 6 p.m. The club will hold the meet at the same time and place every Monday evening through August 10.

“We like the openness and the track at (the high school),” says John Jay, a long-time Kiwanis member, who was involved in helping to organize the meet for the past dozen years or so. “It’s a huge family event. We get 200 to 400 people (coming out) every Monday.”

Races will begin this year with the “Jogger’s Mile,” coordinated by the Fort Ward Park Run group. The track meet will then be followed by 50, 100 and 100- and 400-meter dashes, a 50- and 100-meter hurdles event, and a 4 x 100-meter relay. “The objective,” adds Nathan Oestreich, chair of the event, “is to try and run to your predictive time, which each runner writes down beforehand.”

“As the season goes by, we tally up the winners and give them a medal,” adds Jay. “The kids love seeing their names in the newspaper.”

This year’s schedule

– July 6th : Meet #1
– July 13th : Meet #2
– July 20th : Meet #3
– July 27th : Meet #4
– August 3rd : Meet #5
– August 10th : Final Meet

For more information on Kiwanis visit: Kiwanis Club of Bainbridge Island – Kids Need Kiwanis

Rotary Auction Donation Drop-offs Continue Through Wednesday, with the Big Day Saturday July 11

You know the drill. It’s time to gather up all that stuff in your house, condo, or apartment that you don’t use, or has been gathering dust, and donate it to the Rotary Auction & Rummage Sale. The annual drive – now in its 66th year – is a fundraising event organized and run by the Rotary Club of Bainbridge Island, featuring more than 2,400 community volunteers. Below are the dates and times remaining that you can drop off your contributions:

Donation Drop-Offs