Every community in and around Madison County has a celebration planned for the Independence Day holiday.
West Jefferson
West Jefferson’s July 4th Streetfest will cover three days, July 2-4, and take place downtown on South Center and Pearl streets, behind the banks.
Wednesday, July 2
5-11 p.m.—Rides
5 p.m.—Lolly the Clown
5 p.m.—Mime and Stilt-walking by Brad Bodary
5 p.m.—Flag raising
5 p.m.—Music by Courtnie and Spenser Selbert
7 p.m.—Music by Southern Trio
Thursday, July 3
5-11 p.m.—Rides
5 p.m.—Lolly the Clown
5 p.m.—Music by Darwin Conley
7 p.m.—Music by Posse Band
Friday, July 4
10 a.m.—Parade forms
11 a.m.—Parade steps off
12:30 p.m.—Music by Union Highway
1-11 p.m.—Rides
1 p.m.—Lolly the Clown
1-4:30 p.m.—Car show (registration ends at 3, judging at 4:30)
6:30 p.m.—Music by the Alexander Band
10 p.m.—Fireworks (rain date July 5)
Food offerings all three days include hot dogs, funnel cakes, cotton candy, soft drinks and more. Albanese Amusements of Hebron are running the rides. Hamburg Fireworks will put on the fireworks.
Vendors and craft exhibitors may contact Terry Harper at 614-879-9751 to reserve spaces. For parade information, call Paula Martin at 614-565-4949 or pick up entry forms at Mike’s Pizza or the West Jefferson Water Department.
London
"Everyone needs to save their gas money and enjoy a great show close to home," says Melissa Noble, one of the organizers of this year’s Patriotic Celebration in London.
The event is set for July 3 at London High School’s athletic complex. The London Parks and Recreation Department will host family activities from 6 to 8 p.m. The school’s Music Boosters will sell hot and cold food and drinks from the home side concession stand.
Hamburg Fireworks will launch the fireworks display at dusk. Visitors are encouraged to bring their blankets and lawn chairs to enjoy the show.
“We are often asked why the fireworks are planned for July 3 instead of the 4th. The answer is that the committee receives a 25 percent discount off the total price of the show if the fireworks are fired any day by the 4th,” Noble said.
The celebration committee lines up sponsors to pay for the fireworks. This year, they raised $12,000, which tops last year’s total by $1,000.
“We are able to get the most for our sponsors’ dollars by firing a day early,” said Noble, who is joined on the committee by Rod and Ginger Kronk, Matt Noble, and Tim Wilson.
The sponsors are:
Celebration Sponsors (under $100)—Maurice Beathard of Beathard Law Office, Brewer Plumbing and Heating, Fairbrook Homes, Jamie Peart of State Farm Insurance, Mabe’s Clothing and Athletic Apparel, and an anonymous donor
Sparkler Sponsors ($100)—Church & Dwight, Dillion Realty, Dwyer Insurance Agency, Eberle-Fisher Funeral Home and Crematory, Gary Peters’ Tax Service, J.S. Custom Graphics & Computers/Sheehy Systems, K.A. Sims Construction Co., Ken and Nancy Weimer, London Animal Hospital, London Florist, Greenhouses and Garden Center, London Mayor David Eades, London Police Department/Chief Pete Tobin, London Signs, Madison Lawn Care, Nelson and Ball Heating and Cooling, New York Life Insurance Co./Michael Quilter, Obstetrics and Gynecology of London, Re/MAX Team Advantage/Greg and Liz Finchum, Ron Casteel of Sovereign Homes
Firecracker Sponsors ($250)—Advantage Bank (downtown London and Eagleton Center), ByersAuto.com, Dwyer Bros., Equipment Specialists, MATCO Services, Royal Cabinets, Takacs Ice Cream, Wal-Mart
Rocket Sponsors ($500)—Building Systems Transportation, MTB Development, Madison County Hospital, Merchants National Bank, Rader, Lynch and Dodds Funeral Home, Stanley Electric U.S., Wilson Printing & Graphics
Finale Sponsors ($1,000)—Kiwanis Club of London, Kronk and Scaggs Insurance, London First United Methodist Church.
“We would like to thank the employees of Takacs Ice Cream who donate their tips during the month of June to the fireworks fund,” Noble said. “Last year they raised well over $500.”
Mount Sterling
The Mount Sterling Community Center will host its second annual “Spirit of Community” celebration on July 4 at the center, 164 E. Main St. For details or to register for activities and contests, call 740-869-2453. The entry fee per event is $5.
9-11 a.m.—Registration
10 a.m.—Parade line-up at Veterans Field
11 a.m.—Spirit of Community Parade (trophies to top church, business, decorated bike and other entries)
Noon-3 p.m.—Quilt display in gym, children’s games, car show, flower exhibit, cornhole tournament, baking contest, tractor show, golf game for adults
Noon-1 p.m.—Rock-n-roll trivia game hosted by John Timmons in the center (prizes will be awarded)
1 p.m. Judging of Mr. and Miss Firecracker contest
1-3 p.m.—Sterling Bluegrass Boys band
Grand marshals of the parade are Frances Fulton and Georgia Midgley, both active members of First United Methodist Church of Mount Sterling. Fulton was a first-grade teacher at Mount Sterling Elementary for many years. Midgley is a 50-year member of Order of the Eastern Star; she and her late husband ran Tommy’s Grocery in Mount Sterling for many years.
“They are both lovely, lovely ladies,” said Bonnie Arbogast Stump, co-chairperson of the center’s fundraising committee.
Flower and quilt exhibitors can set up between 1 and 5 p.m. on July 3. There is a three-quilt limit per person. The July 4 celebration will include a silent auction of a handmade quilt donated by the MSCC Sewing Ladies.
Children can enjoy many games, as well as enter the flower exhibit, baking contest, and cornhole tournament. The children’s categories will be for 12 and under.
Boys and girls ages 4 to 6 years old are invited to enter the Little Miss/Mister Firecracker contest. Entrants do not need to be residents of Mount Sterling. Pre-register by picking up an application at the center or library. Outfits should be red, white and blue. Trophies will be awarded to the top three in each category; ribbons and small tokens will go to all participants. The entry fee is $5 per child. All entrants may ride in the parade but must provide their own transportation. The winners will be invited to ride in the 2009 parade.
Dash plaques will go to the first 35 registrants in the car show. Trophies will go to the top three cars and top three tractors.
Hot dogs, bratwurst, hamburgers, drinks, chips and more will be sold. T-shirts are available for purchase for $10 at Ben & Joy’s Restaurant. Sizes XL and XXL are $12.
Sponsors for the day are Jay Car Construction, Danny and Sierra Crawford and Sterling One Stop. Others include: Green and Sons, tractor show; Lynn’s Hair Salon (Mr. and Miss Firecracker); Flowers By Ralph (flower exhibit); Sterling One Stop (car show); and Ben & Joy’s (baking contest).
For more information or activity entry forms, call Annie Tomlinson, center director, at 740-869-2453.
Plain City
New to Plain City’s July 4 celebration is a Little Mister contest for 5- to 8-year-old boys. They and the Little Miss winners will be crowned in the park after the parade, which kick-starts the day of events.
Parade line-up starts at 2:30 p.m. at the Route 42 entrance to Pastime Park. The parade will step off at 3 p.m., head south into town, west on Main Street, and north on Park, coming full circle back to the park.
Anyone can participate in the parade. Winners will be named for decorated bike entries. The parade grand marshals are longtime Jonathan Alder teachers Michelle and John Byars. To enter the parade or the Little Miss or Little Mister contests, call Kim Yoder at 614-348-9879.
From 4 to 9 p.m., children can enjoy a climbing wall, face painting, a clown creating balloon sculptures, Charlie’s Field Day activities, watermelon eating contest, inflatables including the Sponge Bob Jump House, and more. A dunk tank and food also are part of the afternoon.
Live bands will perform between 6 and 9:30 p.m. Slamajama will play rock music. Kristy Gill is a Nashville recording artist.
The fireworks will go off at dusk (approximately 9:45 p.m.) Prior to the display, a children’s choir made up of Jonathan Alder youngsters will sing the national anthem.
Throughout the day, Madison County Stingers 12-and-under baseball team will sell 50/50 raffle tickets to raise money to travel to Battlecreek, Mich., for the first level of competition in the Little League World Series.
Springfield
The Old Fashioned Country Fireworks will be held at the Clark County Fairgrounds on July 3 (July 7 rain date). Gates open at 6 p.m. for this free, no-alcohol family event. There will be a country concert in the grandstand at 7:00 p.m. and fireworks will go off at approximately 10:00 p.m. Entrance into the fairgrounds will be on Route 41 only.
