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Fourth of July fun all around the area
By Krista Goerte
Published July 3, 2009
Fourth of July promises to be an exciting weekend for residents of Paris and the surrounding area.
Weekend festivities will kick off Friday evening with skydivers, a Paris Municipal Band concert and the Rotary Clubs’ community fireworks display this evening at Noyes Stadium at Paris Junior College.
Skydivers are set to swoop into the stadium about 7:30 p.m., with the patriotic concert to start at 8 p.m. and the fireworks display scheduled for about 9 p.m. People are welcome to sit in the bleachers or bring lawn chairs or blankets to watch the show.
Saturday’s holiday schedule begins with the Celebrate America Parade downtown at 10 a.m. “One Nation Under God” is the theme for the 17th annual event. Doug Weiberg, a founder of the parade, will serve as grand marshal. Marching bands from Paris and North Lamar high schools are scheduled to perform and beauty queens, floats, horses and more will fill out the colorful event.
But Paris is not the only local municipality having a celebration.
Although not coined as a Fourth of July celebration, Avery’s 2009 Tomato Festival on Friday and Saturday provides fun for one and all in downtown Avery, with a round of games and contests, activities and entertainment, craft booths, food vendors and an evening of carnival rides and games. A 5K run and the STA-BIL Lone Star Lawn mower racing series is also to take place.
The Order of the Eastern Star will open Saturday’s activities with a breakfast at 6 a.m. in the lodge hall.
Contests for the most beautifully dressed tomato, best tomato hat and the biggest, smallest and ugliest tomato will highlight the event.
The festival also offers a parade, farmer’s tomato and vegetable market, cow patty bingo and other games, face painting, cold watermelon and airbrush tattoos. Amusement rides open 6 p.m. Friday and a midnight student dance will start at 6 p.m. A fireworks show at dusk tops off the event.
Detroit hosts its annual homecoming during the holiday weekend, at the Glenn Townes Memorial Fine Arts Center and Gymnasium. On Friday, a Detroit High School class reunion is set for the classes of 1944, 1949, 1953, 1964, 1974, 1979, 1984, 1989, 1999 and 2004, with a barbecue meal at $7 per plate. A fish fry and entertainment is also planned for 5 p.m. at Detroit Tabernacle.
Activities continue in Detroit on Saturday with the Fireman’s Pancake Breakfast at 7 a.m., at the fire house. A parade begins 10 a.m., downtown and class reunion events resume at 11:30 a.m. A memorial services is planned and the Detroit Cemetery Association meets at 2:30 p.m. at First Baptist Church. Other events include an ice cream supper at 6 p.m. at the Detroit Community Center a scavenger hunt, and a bake sale to be held near the tabernacle.
Deport hosts its annual July Fourth celebration at 5:30 p.m. Saturday on Main Street. Free hot dogs and lemonade will be served at 6 p.m. Children’s games are 25 cents per ticket and will include a bounce house, slide, bean bag toss, fishing booth and softball throw. Other events include a cake walk, egg toss, sack race, basketball free throw competition and dunking booth. Concession stands will be open throughout the event. A fireworks show is to begin at dusk.
In Roxton, a fireworks show is scheduled to begin just after dark at the baseball complex, with Big A’s Street Dance on Front Street beginning after the show. Live music for the dance is provided by Crossfire.
On Saturday, Fort Towson, Okla., has scheduled its annual Raymond Gary State Parks Fireworks display to begin after dark. Admission is free and donations are accepted and appreciated. The event is sponsored by Raymond Gary State Park, Raymond Gary Lake Association, Choctaw Electric, Western Farmers Electric, Little Dixie, First United National Band, Corner Store and Howard McClanahan.
Enloe has scheduled its Enloe Community Center July Fourth Celebration to begin at 5 p.m. Saturday with a parade. Entries are to line up at the gin lot in front of the community center immediately following the parade. Hotdogs, hamburgers, sausage on a stick and more is provided. Participants are asked to bring chips, cookies and soft drinks.
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