Fourth of July festivities abound

WORTHINGTON — Many area communities have special events planned for the Fourth of July holiday and weekend:

CURRIE: Currie will celebrate Independence Day with three days of events beginning with Bob & The Beachcombers performing at 9 p.m. today. Friday events include duck races, a picnic from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and fireworks at dusk. Other highlights will include softball, horseshoe and volleyball tournaments, mud races and a waffle breakfast on Saturday morning. The festival is organized by Currie Town & Country Booster Club.

GEORGE, Iowa: George’s annual Fourth of July celebration begins with a 5k Fun Run at 8 a.m. Friday and firemen’s duck races at 9 a.m. Miss George and Little Miss George will be crowned at 10 a.m., followed by the Good Samaritan hog roast from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The parade gets under way at 1 p.m., with an antique tractor pull at 2:30 p.m., sidewalk chalk contest from 2:30 to 4 p.m., game stands open from 2:30 to 8 p.m. and evening entertainment by The Dixie Daddies at 6:30 p.m. A pie auction is slated for 8 p.m. and fireworks display at 9:30 p.m.

IOWA GREAT LAKES: Several fireworks displays are planned for the Fourth of July weekend over the various lakes. The first display will begin at about 10 p.m. today over Big Spirit Lake. Others are scheduled for 10 p.m. Friday over West Lake Okoboji; and Saturday night over Silver Lake in Lake Park, Iowa.

OKABENA: A classic car show and tractor show will kick off Fourth of July events on Friday morning in Okabena. The kiddie parade gets under way at 2:15 p.m., followed by the Independence Parade at 2:30 p.m. A patriotic program is scheduled for 4 p.m. at the Legion, and a Band Jam by OMLS also starts at that time. The slowest tractor contest will be at 5 p.m. on Main Street. Doors open for bingo at 5:30 p.m. at the American Legion, with bingo beginning at 6:30 p.m. A variety show will also be at 6:30 p.m. in the school gym, and then Kraft Variety will perform at 7 p.m. in the park. Fireworks will light up the sky after sundown, and raffle drawings will follow the fireworks. There will also be ballgames, concessions, kiddie rides and games for the whole family throughout the day.

PAULLINA, Iowa: Paullina will celebrate its quasquicentennial — 125 years — with a full slate of events today through Sunday. Among the highlights are a Civil War memorabilia display, quilt show and presentation by Stan DeHaan as Abraham Lincoln at 5 p.m. today; fly-in breakfast, 1 p.m. parade, fire department water fights at 2:30 p.m., 7 p.m. talent show, 8 p.m. “Gem of the Prairie Part 2” pageant at 8 p.m. and fireworks at 10 p.m. on Friday; 5k, family olympics, all-school reunion at 2 p.m., car cruise and live entertainment in the evening on Saturday; and community worship service and meal and live entertainment on Sunday. For more information, go to www.paullinaiowa.net.

SIBLEY, Iowa: A full slate of events is planned this weekend in conjunction with Sibley’s Good Ole Summertime festival and all-school reunion. The complete schedule was printed in Wednesday’s Daily Globe, but highlights include the parade at 5 p.m., community barbecue from 6 to 10 p.m. and fireworks at 10 p.m. Friday east of Sibley-Ocheyedan High School; tractor ride, pancake breakfast, craft show, all-school reunion banquet from 5 to 8 p.m. and street dance beginning at 9 p.m. Saturday; and community church service at 5 p.m. Sunday.

WESTBROOK: Old Westbrook Lutheran Church, rural Westbrook, will have its annual ice cream social on Friday. Serving begins at 6 p.m. and continues throughout the evening. Ron Kenyon will offer a program of gospel, country and patriotic music at 8 p.m. Fireworks begin at dusk.

WORTHINGTON: The Old-Fashioned Fourth of July will be from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday at Worthington’s Pioneer Village. An admission fee will be charged. There will be heritage displays, entertainment and the 22nd annual Prairie Reapers Power Reunion, featuring a CASE tractor and machinery display. A tractor pull will be at 11 a.m. and parade at noon. The melodrama, “Fireman, Save My Child,” will be performed at 11 a.m., 1 and 2:30 p.m. Other Worthington events include a concert by the “Amazing” Worthington City Band at 7:30 p.m. in Chautauqua Park and fireworks at dusk over Lake Okabena.

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