Festive Fourth

The Fourth of July celebration in Osceola is the city’s biggest event of the year. However, it takes a lot of work to make a four-day celebration run smoothly.

“We need more volunteers,” said Bobbie Cook with Osceola’s Fourth of July committee. “Even if they don’t want to be on the committee, if they would just like to step up and help in one area, we all would greatly appreciate that.”

This year’s Fourth of July event is scheduled from July 2-5 and the theme is “Rockin’ The Square.”

Many of the areas to volunteer include children’s games, parade duties, parade coordination and organization, assisting with tractor show, helping the children’s tractor pull, bounce house, dunk tank and pie contest.

“It is a great experience for kids earning Silver Cord hours to understand the ins and outs on community celebration and involvement,” Cook said.

Pastor Chuck DeVos, a committee member, said if people have a particular area of the celebration they would like to help out in, that can be arranged.

If people are interested in volunteering, call Cook at 641-414-8258 or DeVos at 641-342-2334 for more information.

‘Giving back’

“What the Fourth of July committee really does is we’re giving back,” DeVos said. “ … This is a way of volunteering to give something back to our community, which is constantly giving to us.”

For approximately 15 years, DeVos and Bruce Harris have announced the parade as it goes through the town’s square.

For several years, they have bought gift certificates and prizes to give away to the person who has traveled the farthest for the event.

The committee members said people from all across southern Iowa and Missouri will make their way to Osceola for the Independence Day celebration.

“Literally, we’ve had people from California, from North Carolina, from Georgia. We’ve got one family that’s been here multiple times from Australia,” DeVos said. “They usually win.”

The Fourth of July in Osceola is also viewed as a homecoming celebration. Many families will gather and class reunions will often be held.

Since 1856

There is a long tradition behind the Fourth of July celebration in Osceola. The town has been putting on a big Independence Day extravaganza since 1856. This was only 10 years after Iowa had been granted statehood.

That means this summer’s event is the city’s 159th year for hosting a celebration.

Mickey Thomas, a committee member, discussed many historical aspect’s of Osceola’s Fourth of July event, including one from 1922.

“There were no firecrackers. They used blacksmith anvils and gunpowder to make noise,” Thomas said. “Horse-drawn decorated wagons took part in the parade. And, at noon, all dinners were spread out to make one big picnic. And, in the afternoon, the Declaration of Independence was read.”