By Rick Palsgrove
Southeast Editor
Groveport’s annual Fourth of July celebration will feature the traditional parade, fireworks and more.
“I think our Independence Day celebration is different from other communities in that we emphasize a hometown feel and atmosphere,” said Groveport Mayor Lance Westcamp. “We also get the community involved in organizing it.”
The parade
The celebration will take place on July 4 and begins with the parade at 11 a.m. Due to the construction on Hendron Road, the parade this year will begin at the Groveport Recreation Center and then go west on Main Street ending at Tallman Street.
“The parade is one of my favorite things about our celebration,” said Westcamp. “It’s great to see all the people lined up along Main Street to watch the parade.”
The parade grand marshal is Terri Christensen.
“Terri has been very active in our community for many years,” said Westcamp. “She’s actively involved in our schools, area churches and the local chamber of commerce. I do believe what made the choice easy was the performance of ‘When You Wish Upon a Star,’ performed by Groveport Madison Area Community Choir under Terri’s direction (at the choir’s community show in February, ‘That’s Entertainment’).”
Christensen said she is “honored and humbled” to be the grand marshal.
“Honors like this are not why I do what I do,” said Christensen. “I love giving back to the community and helping my community, church, and people. My parents raised me to be a giving person and I hope I’ve done the same with my kids.”
She said she’s looking forward to the parade and Fourth of July celebration.
“It’ll be a lot of fun!” Christensen said.
The deadline for all parade entrants is June 28 at 4 p.m.
There will not be a separate kids parade this year due to the logistics involved in planning around the Hendron Road reconstruction project.
Activities
Following the parade there will be a vareity of activities along Wirt Road from 12:30-4:30 p.m. These include: free children’s activities; bounce houses; inflatables; children’s carnival games; balloon twister; caricature artists; and face painting. There will be food, drink, and ice cream vendors. Prize giveaways will be held every hour.
Participants can register for the Buckeye State kids’ pedal tractor pull at 2 p.m. Register near the main stage. The Buckeye State kids’ pedal tractor pull on Wirt Road will begin at 3 p.m.
Music
From 12:30-4:30 p.m. singer, songwriter, and guitarist Larry Carter will perform on the main stage. Then the Rider Band will take the stage from 5-7 p.m. and Agent 99 will perform from 7:45-9:45 p.m.
Fireworks
Fireworks begin at dusk accompanied by patriotic music. The fireworks will be shot off from Palm Pond in Heritage Park along Wirt Road.
“These will be the best fireworks we’ve ever had,” said Westcamp. “The fireworks display will last about the same amount of time as in past years, but there will be more fireworks shot off in that time frame than we’ve had before.”
Other celebration news
City officials informed Wirt Road an Cron Drive residents that, for safety reasons, no vehicles will be allowed to come in or leave the event area after noon on July 4. Also, no animals will be permitted in the event area at no time during the festival. Handicapped parking will be available at the Myers-Woodyard Funeral Home parking lot on Main Street.
Sponsors
Sponsors for the Groveport Fourth of July celebration are: Berwick Glass & Mirror Inc.; Franklin Heating and Refrigeration; Dynamix Energy Services Co. LLC; 1st Service Federal Credit Union; Local Waste Services, LTD; Groveport Madison Schools; Petermann Transportation; TurnPoint Church; Ricart Ford; Myers-Woodyard Funeral Home; Groveport Zion Lutheran Church; and Groveport American Legion Robert Dutro Post 486.
Groveport Fourth of July Celebration Schedule of Events
•11 a.m. – Main Street parade. The parade will start at the Groveport Recreation Center and travel west down Main Street ending at Tallman Street.
•12:30 – 4:30 p.m. – Music on the main stage with singer/songwriter/guitarist Larry Carter; free children’s activities along Wirt Road, including: bounce houses, inflatables, children’s carnival games, balloon twister, and more; and caricature artists and face painting. There will be food, drink, and ice cream vendors. Prize giveaways every hour.
•2 p.m. – Registration for Buckeye State kids’ pedal tractor pull. Register near the main stage.
•3 p.m. – Buckeye State kids’ pedal tractor pull on Wirt Road.
•5 – 7 p.m. – Music by the Rider Band
•7:45 – 9:45 p.m. – Music by Agent 99
•Dusk – fireworks accompanied by patriotic music.
