4th of July draws near
By Mary Peterson
The fourth of July is nearing, and excited residents are gearing up for the festivities.
Kenny’s Fun Land returns with carnival rides for all ages from July 2 until July 5.
The opening ceremony on the bandstand at 6:30 p.m. July 2 kicks off the celebration followed by the jazz/blues group One Nite Stand Band from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
The fun on the bandstand continues Friday night at 5:00 p.m. with the Oldly Wed Game. This game is similar to the Newly Wed Game, only with more experienced couples. The following local couples have agreed to compete this year: Clara & Curt Campbell, Ann & Fred Diehl, Tammy & Steve Weers and Kathy & John Kookier. Following the game, the winners of the pie baking contest will be announced, and from 7:00 p.m to 9:00 p.m. the entertainment continues with the Piranha Brothers.
Saturday’s fun-packed line-up begins with the annual 4th of July parade at 11:00 a.m. The theme for this year’s parade is “Fairy Tale 4th of July.”
Information about entry forms, times and locations to line up and prizes can be found in the parade ad in this week’s issues of The Advertiser and The Osceola Sentinel-Tribune.
The Bill Riley Talent Show with Bill Riley, Jr. will begin at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday. Winners of this contest will be eligible to compete at the State Fair. In case of bad weather, the talent show will be held in the Clarke Community High School Auditorium.
From 7:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. The Barn Wreckers will perform on the bandstand followed by a street dance in front of the fire station featuring the group Outlaw Junkies from 9:00 p.m. until midnight. In case of bad weather, this performance will also be held in the Clarke Community High School Auditorium. There will be a break in the music at 10:00 p.m. for the fireworks, which will be set off at West Lake near Terrible’s Casino.
Sunday may be the last day of the celebration, but there is still plenty of family-fun activities planned.
At 11:00 a.m. there is a community church service in the courtyard sponsored by the Osceola Ministerial Association. Everyone is asked to bring a non-perishable food item or personal hygiene item for the food pantry. The collection will be donated to the food pantry also. The bad weather location for this event will be the First Christian Church on the corner of Main Street and Cass Street.
The Outhouse Races begin at 1:00 p.m. on the north side of the square. Teams of three people, one driver and two pushers, compete to win the coveted Golden Toilet Seat.
After a grueling run up the street, the driver must pick up a fresh roll of toilet paper, clean a messy toilet seat and fish through a tub of muck for a corn cob. Then, with the driver back in the driver’s seat, the pushers race back to the finish line. Some of the outhouses have been streamlined for quicker times, while some have been designed for uniqueness and comfort.
Following the outhouse races, eating contests will be held in front of the bandstand. Contestants who have turned in their forms will see how many hot dogs, or how much watermelon or ice cream they can eat in the allotted time. The forms will be available at the bandstand on Sunday. Contestants under 18 must have their parents’ permission.
The final contest of the celebration is the Decorated Diaper Contest. For this contest, entrants must provide their own decorations and the decorated diaper must be able to be worn by a baby or toddler.
The festivities are completed Sunday evening with a concert by C.D. Wineland and the Sidewinders on the bandstand from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m.
