County gears up for festive Fourth
With the Fourth of July less than a month away, the Columbia County Recreation Department is gearing up for its biggest Independence Day celebration and fireworks display yet.
Held at Patriots Park with parking at the Columbia County Merchants Association Fairgrounds, this year's Fourth of July event will feature 13 amusement rides, Noahs' Ark Petting Zoo and Pony Rides, old-fashioned family games, the famous pig tossing contest, a silent auction, arts and crafts, an Elvis impersonator, a children's wagon parade and contest, a performance by Shiloh, an Independence Day ceremony, lots of food and much more.
"In case you haven't heard, we've been known to toss a firework or two also," said Beth Roberson, special-events coordinator for the recreation department. "I guess that's being modest because ours will be the very best show in town. We'll see to that."
A new event at this year's Fourth of July is the wagon parade and contest. The lineup begins at 6 p.m. at the Royal baseball field and the parade begins at 6:30 p.m. Children will be judged and prizes will be awarded to the best and most imaginative wagons.
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Much of the action for the celebration, which will be from 3 to 9 p.m., will be at the Patriots Park baseball complex. Some of the arts-and-crafts vendors and the silent auction will be in the gymnasium. Seating for the fireworks display will be at the Patriots soccer fields.
Lauren Sivak, 4, and Tyler Sivak, 2, tumble down the slide at Patriots Park during the Fourth of July celebration last year.
Photo by Jim Blaylock
"There are many great options for July 4th festivities, but there is just something special about the family-fun atmosphere created at Patriots Park," said Roberson. "From carnival rides to a wonderful petting zoo to crafts and old fashioned games, not to mention the great food and entertainment throughout the event, it just can't be beat."
The Columbia County News-Times is a sponsor of the event with radio stations WBBQ and WZNY, WFXG-TV (Channel 54), Coca-Cola, Gerald Jones Volkswagen and others.
Admission to the Columbia County Fourth of July Celebration is free. Handicapped parking is available. For more information, call Patriots Park at 868-3458.