By Rick Palsgrove
Southeast Editor
Members of the Groveport Madison Area Community Choir wave to the crowd from their parade float during last year’s parade.
Groveport’s annual Fourth of July celebration is one of the city’s biggest events of the year with its traditional parade, fireworks, and more.
“The residents look forward to this every year,” said Mayor Lance Westcamp. “It’s a special day for Groveport, it’s a great day for the kids, and a wonderful day for families. Seeing the festivities each year takes me back in time to see how far we’ve come.”
The parade
The annual parade takes place on July 4 and begins at 11 a.m. The parade starts at Richardson Road and then goes west on Main Street, then north (right) on Hendron Road and ends at Glendening Elementary.
Activities and music
Following the parade there will be a variety of activities along Wirt Road from 1-5 p.m. These include free children’s activities, bounce houses, inflatables, and kids’ games. There will be food vendors. Prize giveaways will be held every hour.
Music on the main stage includes Jonalee White from 7:30-8:15 p.m. and McGuffey Lane from 8:30-9:40 p.m. White is known for her passion for country music and according to her website she has had five top 40 country singles. McGuffey Lane is a long-time, popular country rock band with several successful albums to their credit. The band is a fan favorite.
Fireworks
Fireworks begin at dusk on July 4 accompanied by patriotic music. They will be fired off from Palm Pond in Heritage Park. Tune into 88.3 FM on your radio to hear patriotic background music for the fireworks.
“The fireworks display will be more spectacular than in previous years,” said Groveport Community Affairs Director Patty Storts. “The shells will go higher in the sky and there will also be some specialty fireworks.”
Added Westcamp, “People all over central Ohio cannot believe how a town our size puts on such a great fireworks display.”
The rain date for the fireworks is July 6 at dusk.
Red, White, and Kids Celebration
The Groveport Red, White, and Kids Celebration will be held July 2 as part of the city’s First Tuesday and Farmers’ Market event in the greenspace by Ace Hardware and the Groveport Elementary front lawn.
Red, White & Kids features a kids parade, food trucks, entertainment, giveaways, and treats and crafts. The kids parade stages at 6 p.m. in the Groveport Middle School Central parking lot, 751 Main St. The kids parade begins at 6:15 p.m. on July 2 and will travel west on Main Street to Front Street, around the oval at Groveport Elementary, and conclude at Middle School Central. Kids can decorate their bikes, wagons, scooters, and strollers for the kids’ parade.
Other Fourth of July celebration news
•No animals will be permitted in the activities area at any time during the festival.
•Handicapped parking will be available at the Myers-Woodyard Funeral Home parking lot on Main Street.
Sponsors
Major sponsors for the Groveport Fourth of July celebration are: 1st Service Federal Credit Union, Berwick Glass & Mirror Inc., Dynamix LTD, Groveport Madison Schools, Kubota Tractor, TurnPoint Church, and Vinelife Church. Additional sponsor is Ace Hardware.
Information
For information about the Fourth of July festivities, call Groveport Town Hall at 614-836-3333.
Parade grand marshal
Groveport Mayor Westcamp announced that Rick Palsgrove is this year’s grand marshal for the city of Groveport’s Fourth of July Parade.
Palsgrove is the editor of the Southeast Messenger newspaper, where he reports on city of Groveport and Groveport Madison Schools news, and managing editor for the e Columbus Messenger Newspapers. He has written many columns in the Messenger highlighting Groveport’s history. He is known throughout the city as “Groveport’s historian” and is the director of the Groveport Heritage Museum, located in Groveport Town Hall.
He is a lifetime resident of Groveport, is a 1974 graduate of Groveport Madison High School, and is a member of the Groveport Madison High School Alumni Hall of Fame. He also earned a master’s degree in journalism/history from Antioch University. He has written two books on the history of Groveport and wrote and co-directed two documentary films about Groveport.
Groveport
Fourth of July Celebration Schedule of Events
•11 a.m. – Main Street parade. The parade starts at Richardson Road and travels west down Main Street, then turns right (north) on Hendron Road and ends at Glendening Elementary. All activities after the parade will be held along Wirt Road.
•1-5 p.m. – Children’s activities along Wirt Road, including: bounce houses, inflatables, and kids games. There will be food vendors. Prize giveaways every hour from 1-5 p.m.
•7:30-8:15 p.m. – Music by Jonalee White.
•8:30-9:40 p.m. – Music by McGuffey Lane.
•Dusk – Fireworks accompanied by patriotic music. Tune into 88.3 FM on your radio to hear patriotic background music for the fireworks. Fireworks will be fired off from Palm Pond in Heritage Park. (Rain date for the fireworks is July 6 at dusk.)
