Fourth of July

PARKERSBURG - A number of activities are planned in the Mid-Ohio Valley during the Fourth of July holiday weekend.

Fireworks displays will be presented July 4 in Parkersburg, Beverly, Newport and Ripley, while Marietta's fireworks at the Washington County Fairgrounds will be July 5.

Those will include:

WOOD COUNTY

• The annual American Legion Post 15 Carnival and fireworks show at Parkersburg City Park began June 26 and runs through July 4 with games, rides and concessions. The event is sponsored by American Legion Post 15 of Parkersburg.

The annual fireworks show will be at 10 p.m. July 4 in City Park, with a rain date to be scheduled if necessary.

• Blennerhassett Island Historical State Park will be celebrating the holiday with a ''Let Freedom Ring'' Ringing the Bell ceremony at 2 p.m. July 4 on the island, as part of a national celebration.

Boats to the island on the Fourth depart Point Park on the hour from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and return on the half hour, with the last return trip at 4:30 p.m. The cost of the boat ride is $8 for adults and $7 for children ages three to 12. The island also features mansion tours, wagon rides, bike rentals, snack stand and a gift shop.

• The Williamstown Lions Club will hold its annual pancake breakfast from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. July 4 at the Lion's shelter in Tomlinson Park, Williamstown.

The cost is $5 and includes pancakes, sausage and drink. The money raised in this event will benefit the Williamstown pool and Lions Club community service programs.

• The annual North Hills Fourth of July Parade will be 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. July 4.

The parade will be held on North Hills Drive and is open to all North Hills residents, their friends and family members. It is dedicated to the veterans of North Hills, both living and deceased.

Children decorate their bikes, scooters, wagons and strollers to show their patriotic spirit in the parade with their families. Area veterans will walk in the parade and conduct a flag ceremony. Entertainment will be provided by DJ Jack Horton and local teen talent. Refreshments, door prizes, games and activities are planned for the event.

WASHINGTON COUNTY

• The Friends of Front Street will kick off the Fourth of July Weekend in downtown Marietta at 6 p.m. July 4 with the 14th annual Red, White and Blues Festival in the parking lot of The Lafayette Hotel.

Tickets are $5 each. There will be food concessions offered by the Lafayette Hotel with beer concessions by Budweiser.

The gate opens at 6 p.m. and the music runs from 7 p.m. to midnight. This year's musical lineup includes Izzy & Chris, the Patrick McLaughlin Band and L.T. & Blues Express.

• The fourth annual Marietta Wing Thing! will begin at 6 p.m. July 5 in the Lafayette Hotel parking lot at 101 Front St. in downtown Marietta.

The event features a chicken wing cook-off with local restaurants vying for top honors in the Mid-Ohio Valley for Best Hot Wing, Best Classic Wing, Best Original Wing, Best Overall Wing and a People's Choice Award.

Admission is $10 per person and includes tickets to sample 10 wings from the participating restaurants. The Wing Eating Contest is 8 p.m. and music will be provided by The Code Blue Band from 6 to 10 p.m.

• The Washington County Fairground in Marietta will host two days of events, concluding with fireworks at 10 p.m. July 5.

The Hilliard Tractor Club will hold two days of tractor pulling events on July 4 and 5, beginning at 9 a.m., inside the fairground's multi-purpose arena. A demolition derby will be 7 p.m. June 5. General admission is $6 and a pit pass for the demolition derby is $20, with the derby pit opening at 2 p.m. with inspections from 3 to 6:30 p.m.

• The Little Muskingum Grange 2621 will hold its annual Eight Mile Road Horse Pull beginning at 9 a.m. July 4 at the William Bowersock Farm on Washington County 9 near Marietta.

• Marietta's annual Independence Day Parade and Celebration will begin at 10:30 a.m. July 4 in downtown Marietta, with a change in the parade route.

The parade is normally organized by AmVets Post 1788 of Marietta, which is joined this year by the Masonic Lodge Marietta Council No. 78, in changing the route for this year. The parade begins in front of the Masonic Lodge at 308 Front St. and will follow Front Street, Putnam Street and Fifth Street to end at the Mound Cemetery.

This year marks the 200th anniversary of the Grand Ohio Lodge and the 100th anniversary of the completion of the Marietta Lodge on Front Street. The ceremony is being held in the Mound Cemetery in honor of Rufus Putnam, the first Grand Master of Ohio, who is buried there. A new plaque will be placed at his gravesite as part of the program.

• The Marietta Chapter, Sons of the American Revolution will participate in several programs on July 3 and 4 in Marietta.

On July 3 at noon, a flag dedication ceremony, will be held at the flagpole at the entrance to Mound Cemetery. The ceremony will include a dedication of the new lighting system at the pole and the raising of a U.S. Flag that was flown over the grave site of General Lafayette at Picpus Convent in Paris, France. The flag will fly at Mound Cemetery until dusk of the Fourth of July. At 12:30 p.m., participants will travel to the Tice Family Cemetery on Tice Run Road off Ohio 26 for the Patriot Solomon Tice Dedication Ceremony. The assembled color guard will be in Revolutionary War Period clothing.

A wreath-laying ceremony will be 9:30 p.m. July 4 at the Daughters of the American Revoluntion Revolutionary War Memorial Plot in Mound Cemetery, followed by participating in the Marietta Independence Day parade.

At 2 p.m. on July 4, a Bell Ringing Celebration will be held at the Henry Fearing House in Harmar Village. The bell will be rung 13 times, one for each colony and a presentation will be given on the signing of the Declaration. The Fearing House will be open from 1 to 3 p.m. July 4 for visitors.

• The Beverly Lions Club will sponsor its 11th Annual July Fourth Antique Tractor and Engine Show at Fort Frye High School in Beverly, beginning at 9 a.m. and running through dark.

The Pioneer Antique Power Club will hold a tractor rodeo at 1 p.m. Food will be available throughout the day. There will be a raffle and 50/50 drawing. Visitors are advised to bring lawn chairs. The day's events will be held rain or shine. Proceeds will benefit area Lions Club projects.

Prior to the engine show, there will be a pancake breakfast sponsored by the Beverly Volunteer Fire Department from 7 to 11 a.m. at the Beverly Fire Station. The annual community fireworks display in Beverly will begin at dark at Cadet Field at Fort Frye High School. The fireworks are sponsored by Russell Chadwick Post 389, the Beverly Lions Club and other organizations.

The Friendly Circle Quilt Club will hold a Quilt Show from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. July 4 in the Fort Frye High School gym.

• Newport Volunteer Fire Department's annual Firemen's Social begins with a parade at 11 a.m. on July 4. The parade route goes from Newport Elementary School on Charles Street through Newport. Lineup for the parade begins at 10 a.m. Social activities after the parade will take place behind the fire department on Ohio 7. A fireworks display will presented at 10 p.m.

• The Little Hocking Volunteer Fire Department will hold its annual Ice Cream Social July 4.

The parade will start at the Little Hocking Elementary School at 4 p.m. and end at the school where the social will begin. There will be live entertainment all day with games including a corn hole tournament, door prizes, chicken dinner and other food and ice cream.

JACKSON COUNTY

• The 45th annual Mountain State Arts and Crafts Fair runs July 3 to 6 at Cedar Lakes Conference Center near Ripley. This year's event is open daily from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tickets are available at the gate and cost $6 for adults, $5 for seniors, $2 for children ages 6 through 12 and free for children under 6 years.

In addition to live entertainment and activities, the festival features more than 200 juried craftsmen ranging from traditional to contemporary arts and crafts. There will also be cooking demonstrations, sheep shearing demonstrations, storytelling and other attractions.

• The annual Ripley Fourth of July Celebration will begin at 10 a.m. with opening ceremonies, a parade at noon and conclude at 10 p.m. with fireworks following a day-long series of live entertainment. The entertainers will include regional performers like The Stan Daniels Band, South of the River Band and the Van-Dells. The Colegate Country Showdown competition will be at 2 p.m. A hot dog eating contest will be 5 p.m.

A carnival will be set up in the Ripley municipal parking lot from June 30 to July 5. For more information about these entertainers or other events scheduled for the July Fourth holiday, visit www.ripley4thofjuly.us.

WIRT COUNTY

• The Elizabeth-Wirt Volunteer Fire Department will hold its 30th Annual Ice Cream Social on July 5 in Elizabeth.

The event kicks off with the Fireman's Firecracker 5K Road Run and Fun Walk at 8:30 a.m. A parade through Elizabeth will be held at 11 a.m., with units to begin lining up at 10 a.m. at the Wirt County Primary Center on Schoolview Street.

There will be refreshments, ice cream, door prizes and live entertainment from noon to 10 p.m. There will be a live auction at 4:30 p.m. The entertainers will include: The Peacemakers at noon and 1 p.m;, Cover 1 at 2 and 3 p.m., The Marks Family at 4 p.m., MIXX at 6 and 7 p.m. and Blackwater Run at 8 p.m.

Member Comments

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RickWT
06-29-08 4:27 AM »Report Abuse	This is a really good roundup of events. Thank you.

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