WORTHINGTON - A number of communities across the region will celebrate our nation’s Independence Day this weekend with a variety of events.
Below are some of the festivities scheduled for the area:
Beach Bash ’15
Radio Works is hosting a free event Friday for the entire family. Called Beach Bash ’15, activities get under way at 3 p.m. in Worthington’s Centennial Park.
The Interstate Exchange Group is going to help with inflatables, kids’ games and plenty of prizes. Food will also be a primary attraction, as hot dogs, burgers, Pepsi products and water will be available
Chris Hawkey will perform with his band in the evening, his country music setting the stage for a fireworks display originating from Ehlers Park on the southeast edge of Lake Okabena.
All of the proceeds from this first-ever event will go to the Lake Okabena Improvement Association, with a goal of improving the lake’s overall quality and cleanliness.
FRIDAY: 3 p.m., inflatables, kids’ games, prizes; 5 p.m., beer garden opens; 7 p.m., Chris Hawkey performance; 9:30 p.m., fireworks
George, Iowa, Freedom Days
George Freedom Days will kick off Friday with a traditional pedal tractor pull event. Festivities will continue all weekend.
Saturday is when the majority of activities are planned. A fun run/walk will start at 8 a.m. on the rec trail. The parade will start at 1 p.m. this year, instead of in the morning.
Later in the evening the Hepperly Band will take the stage. From AC/DC to the Beatles and Toby Keith, there should be a little music for every taste.
“We have the Hepperly Band, and they play a little of everything, (and) we’re excited about all of it,” said Laura Reifers, one of the main coordinators for George Freedom Days.
As usual, Saturday’s Freedom Days will also include a fireworks display.
The festivities will end Sunday with the George Chamber of Commerce Dad’s Belgian Waffle Breakfast. Everyone is invited to take part in the weekend celebration.
“I just want everyone to come (and) celebrate the Fourth in George,” Reifers said.
The schedule of events includes:
FRIDAY 2 to 4 p.m., George Museum opens; 5:30 p.m, pedal tractor pull registration at Old Park; 6 p.m., pedal tractor pull at Old Park; 7:30 p.m., Miss George and Little Miss George Pageant at the George-Little Rock school auditorium
SATURDAY: 8 a.m., fun run/walk at George Rec Trail; 9 a.m., George firemen/GEMS duck races; 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., George Museum open; 10 to 11:30 a.m., Betterment Club fishing tournament at Locker Park; 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Good Samaritan Society hog roast at Community Building; Noon, antique tractor pull registration; 1 p.m., parade; 2 to 8 p.m., games and inflatables at the G-LR school grounds; 2 p.m., antique tractor pull; 6 p.m., door prize ticket sales end; 6 to 7 p.m., The Hepperly Band at the G-LR school grounds; 7 to 7:30 p.m., pie auction fundraiser for Freedom Days Celebration at the G-LR school grounds; 7:30 to 8 p.m., door prize drawing winners announced at the G-LR school grounds
Okabena
This year, the Okabena Community Fourth of July Celebration will include a new theatrical performance. The community play, “Born to be Wild,” came about when a local teacher decided he would enjoy directing a play during the summer. The school is opening up its old gym, and many students and community members are participating in the production, which will start at 7 p.m. Saturday.
The Okabena festivities have been a tradition in the community for more than 100 years.
“It keeps getting better and better,” said Ardis Hotzlar, co-chairman of the event.
Another unique and traditional activity is the slowest tractor contest. The rules are simple: The tractor has to be running and moving. The winner gets a trophy and the ultimate privilege of bragging rights.
The festivities will end with fireworks, but Okabena’s display of pyrotechnics will set the celebration apart from the rest, according to Hotzlar.
“We’ll have one of the best fireworks displays in the area,” he said.
Everyone is invited to decide for themselves while enjoying Okabena’s Independence Day celebration.
“Just come and enjoy yourself. It’s a great day from a small community,” Hotzlar said.
SATURDAY: Noon, kiddie pedal pull; 2:15 p.m., kiddie parade; 2:30 p.m., Independence Parade; 4 p.m., patriotic program at American Legion, antique tractor display, Tommy Gun perofrming at OMLS, ice cream social at St. John’s Park; 5 p.m., Slowest Tractor Contest on Main Street; 7 p.m., Community play, “Born to be Wild,” at high school; 10 p.m., fireworks.
Currie
Currie’s annual Town & Country event will kick off Friday night with its traditional street dance. Hicktown Mafia played at last year’s celebration and returns this year with a mix of rock and country music.
Duck races also draw a large crowd because of the cash prizes. Each duck is numbered and put in the Des Moines River. The first duck to cross the finish line wins $500, second place takes $300, and third place wins $200.
Businesses are also given the opportunity to compete with each other. Each business buys and decorates a larger “corporate duck.” Community members can choose their favorite duck, and the winner will get a $250 prize. However the money is given to a charity of the business’ choice.
The annual Fourth of July picnic is also set for Saturday. Mary Leonard, the duck race coordinator, enjoys the traditional event.
“It’s all fun,” she said. “I like to go to the picnic (because) there are a lot of different people that come home.”
The festivities will end on Saturday with the patriotic - and what Leonard calls “beautiful” - fireworks.
The schedule includes:
FRIDAY: 9 p.m. to 1 a.m., Hicktown Mafia plays at street dance
SATURDAY: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Fourth of July picnic and membership drive; 1 p.m., bean bag tournament at city park; all day, inflatable bounce houses for kids, softball tournament, volleyball tournament, duck races; 9:30 p.m., fireworks
SUNDAY: all day, softball tournament
Parade on the Water
This year will mark Luverne’s first Fourth of July Parade on the Water. The idea of bringing back an Independence Day celebration has been in the minds of community members for years.
“We used to have a Fourth of July celebration with fireworks, and we don’t do that anymore,” said Jane Wildung Lanphere, director of the Luverne Chamber of Commerce, while explaining the idea. “People wanted to do something that was kind of fun and different.”
That’s when an idea was conceived of planning a celebration around or by the Creamery Pond. But then organizers thought, why not have it on the pond? That brought about a parade on the water.
The water parade is for non-motorized boats, canoes, pontoons, kayaks and floaties. Anyone can participate, and there will be cash prizes for the best decorated craft.
Saturday will be a work in progress, but the excitement is building as the day approaches,” Lanphere said.
The parade on the water could not have been possible without the help of Mike and Traci Davis, the owners of the property where the event will take place.
The Davises have prepared for the event by flattening out parts of the property, adding sand to the pond and seeking permission to develop a campground.
The new event is hoping to bring excitement and fun to Luverne during Independence day celebrations.
“We came up with an idea, and we are just goofy,” Lanphere said.
Nevertheless, the committee’s goal will be achieved.
“Our goal is (that) we’re all going to have a good time,” Lanphere said.
SATURDAY: 1 p.m., gathering and ice cream; 2 p.m., water parade; all day, games, music, camping and grilling
