With Parade Route Finalized, Fourth of July Celebration in Charles City Set

The following information is courtesy of the Charles City Chamber of Commerce

Fourth of July Celebration set in Charles City July 3-6

               Charles City and the Fourth of July Celebration have gone hand-in-hand for decades, and another fun-filled, family -friendly schedule of events are on tap for July 3-6, courtesy of the Charles City Area Chamber of Commerce, Main Street Charles City program and a number of local sponsors.

               It all kicks off on Wednesday, July 3^rd, with Kids Day sponsored by Soifer Family McDonald’s and First Citizens National Bank. Registration begins at 10 a.m. in Central Park, with the Kids Day Parade around the park area at 10:30 a.m. featuring youngsters and their bikes, wagons, etc., all decked out in red, white and blue! Immediately afterwards there will be free games and a McDonald’s lunch available in the park. Then from 12-12:30 p.m., enjoy the stage show “Absolute Science,” sponsored by Quality Auto Service.

               The Chamber takes over from there at 1 p.m. with free inflatable rides and games in the park until 6 p.m., courtesy of Daniels Auto Collision and Tynan’s Recycling. There will also be a Youth Sand Volleyball Tournament at 2:30 p.m., free yard games, along with 12 different food vendors scheduled to be on hand around Central Park.

               The Charles City Farmers Market will be by the park from 3:30-6 p.m. The Central Park Beer Garden will open at 4 p.m., and be in the park throughout the four-day celebration at different times.

               At 6 p.m., witness the wonder of the annual Hot Dog Eating Contest, sponsored by Dave’s Restaurant and Fareway. The first six contestants who register ahead of time at the Chamber office at the day of in the park will compete for cash prizes and bragging rights! There is a $5 participant fee.

               Then at 7 p.m., a special interactive steel drum group called “Sheltered Reality” will rock Central Park with their rhythm, color and uplifting messages of positive inspiration designed to “push back all the negativity in your life!” Their 90-minute performance is being sponsored by First Baptist Church. DJ music will also be provided that day from 1-6 p.m. by TB Continued Entertainment.

July 4th Schedule

               On the Fourth of July itself, get an early start with the annual Charley Western Firecracker 5K race at 7:30 a.m. starting from the Charles City High School Track. There will be a runner’s costume contest, Kids Fun Run and door prizes, with all proceeds going to help repair and improve the community recreational trail. Contact the Main Street Charles City Office at (641) 228-2335 for more information.

               The Independence Day Parade will feature a different staging area, different route and a new time this year due to the Main Street Rehabilitation Project. This year’s parade will begin at 11 a.m., with staging from 8-10:30 a.m. on Ferguson Street (enter off of North Grand Avenue) and the area around the Community Center parking lot. The route will be from Ferguson to North Main Street, up to Clark Street and over to North Jackson, then down North Jackson to Richings Street, where it will end at North Grand Avenue. Registration forms are available in advance at the Chamber Office at 401 North Main St., or by emailing [email protected]. You can also register the day of the parade, but will be in the back of the lineup. Cost is $12 for up to two vehicles or a vehicle and trailer (non-profits can enter at no cost), while there is a $6 charge for each additional vehicle after that.

               Following the parade, Central Park will be full of savory smells from no less than 15 different food vendors signed up to be on hand, along with the live music of Bad Dog 20/20 until 4 p.m. Enjoy the sounds of this Northeast Iowa cover band that plays “favorites that you love to dance to, from Adele to ZZ Top!” An Adult Sand Volleyball Tournament will be played across from the park in the Chamber parking lot starting at 12:30 p.m., at Hy-Vee will again sponsor a Watermelon Eating Contest, with different age divisions, in the park at 2 p.m. The Beer Garden will also be open from 12 p.m. to the end of the volleyball tourney.

            The Charles City Municipal Band will perform its annual Patriotic Concert along the riverfront behind the Public Library at 7:30 p.m., followed at 10 p.m. by the Fireworks Show over the Cedar River downtown.

Party in the Park on Friday

            The celebration continues on Friday, July 5^th, with a Party in the Park from 5-9 p.m. in Central Park, put on by Main Street Charles City. Enjoy the live country music of Mike Bernard & The Midwest Made, food and beverage vendors, various activities, the Beer Garden and more! Watch for a separate story on the July 5^th PIP event.

Bike Ride, Magician Show and more

            Finally, on Saturday, July 6^th, start your day off with the Charles City Bike Ride departing at 8 a.m. from the First Security Bank & Trust lot. Registration begins at 7:30 a.m. and cost is $5 per person, with a choice of 26, 34 or 50-plus mile routes. Call Dick Neal at (641) 330-9228 for more information.

            The Charles City Farmers Market will be set up along the park on North Jackson Street Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon. A Magician Show, featuring Eric Michels, will take place in Central Park at 4 p.m. The Beer Garden will also open at 4 p.m., with a Cornhole (bags) Tournament starting at 5 p.m., yard games and the dance/pop/cover sounds of the band “BPM” out of the Cedar Rapids area. The July 6^th activities in the park will wrap up at 9 p.m.

            Making the Fourth of July Celebration possible are general sponsors Hy-Vee, CUSB Bank, Daniels Auto Collision, First Security Bank & Trust, Perry Novak Electric, Mediacom, Tynan’s Recycling, Winnebago Industries, Zoetis, Fidelity Bank & Trust, First Baptist Church, Hauser-Weishaar Funeral Home, Pure Prairie Poultry and Zip’s Trucking.

For more information about any of the planned activities, please contact the Chamber office at (641) 228-4234, email [email protected] or visit facebook.com/CharlesCityIowa.

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Volunteers needed to assist with activities

            With all of the different activities scheduled the week of July 3-6, the Charles City Area Chamber of Commerce, as well as the Main Street Charles City program that puts on Party in the Park, are in need of some extra helping hands. If you are able to volunteer even for just a couple of hours during any part of that four-day stretch, please contact the Chamber/Main Street Office at (641) 228-4234, email [email protected].