The Garden City Telegram
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Freedom, fireworks to be featured
Published 7/2/2009 in Local News
By SHAJIA AHMAD
Fireworks displays and other Fourth of July festivities highlight the family fun this weekend.
The Freedom Parade, scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. Saturday on Main Street in Garden City, is in recognition of military service members through the decades and to celebrate Independence Day.
"The (Downtown) Vision Board felt strongly about having a parade where we recognize those who have served in the military and at the same time provide a morning activity for families and friends to gather to begin the July 4 weekend on the right foot with patriotic music and a parade," Downtown Vision Executive Director Beverly Schmitz Glass said in a release.
In addition, the Lee Richardson Zoo will be open late Saturday night for the Municipal Band concert and fireworks display. The Fourth Street vehicle entrance gate will close at 8 p.m. Free vehicle admission will be from 6:30 to 8 p.m. After 8 p.m., the Fifth Street entrance will remain open free of charge.
Zoo staff suggests the West Green location in the zoo for watching fireworks and hearing the band. People can bring lawn chairs and blankets. The band performance will start at 8 p.m. and the fireworks — shot from the Finney County Fairgrounds — will begin at about 9:45 p.m. No personal fireworks are allowed in the zoo or Finnup Park.
Other community-related events this weekend include:
- The Scott County Community Foundation is raising funds for outdoor fun and exercise during its first Walk.Run.Roll at Scott Lake on Saturday. The 10-kilometer, 5K, and walk begin at 7:30 a.m. A wheelchair race for participants of all ages and fitness levels also will be included. The Kids Fun Run begins at 9 a.m. for boys and girl 12 and younger. Adults may accompany children. Registration and pledge forms are available at www.scplayland.org. For more information, call (620) 872-1000 or (620) 872-7182.
- Russ and Debbie Tidwell will perform at 7:30 p.m. Sunday in Stevens Park as part of the summer concert series, sponsored by the Garden City Recreation Commission. The couple, who have been married 18 years, will share old sing-along favorites with the audience. All Stevens Park concerts are free and open to the public.
- Vendors have a variety of fresh produce, homemade food and handcrafted items at the Garden City Farmer's Market, from 7 a.m. to noon every Saturday until Sept. 26. The market is held in the parking lot of Westlake Ace Hardware at the corner of Fleming Street and Harding Avenue.
- A TEA — Taxed Enough Already — Party will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. Saturday at the Western State Bank parking lot, 1500 E. Kansas Ave., in Garden City. Individuals are encouraged to bring their own family-friendly signs. For more information call (620) 355-9779 or 271-3737.
Fireworks displays
Other communities across the region also have patriotic programs on tap this weekend:
- The Syracuse Chamber of Commerce, city of Syracuse and other community businesses are planning a fireworks program beginning at 8 p.m. MST Saturday at the local high school football stadium. Soda pop, water, popcorn and snow cones will be available for sale to raise donations for the program, which begins at dark.
- The Satanta Recreation Commission is hosting a fireworks display at about 10 p.m. Saturday, and will be shooting them off near the north part of town, said Jeremy Hazen, the commission’s director. The display should be visible from the high school football stands, Hazen said.
- The Lions Club in Lakin will be having its annual fireworks display at Beymer Park, south of Lakin on Kansas Highway 25, beginning at dusk.
- In Leoti, the city fire department will be hosting a fireworks display Saturday night.
- The Stanton County Recreation Department in Johnson City is having the Midnight Bash, a softball tournament beginning at 6 p.m. Saturday, at the local softball field.
- The Grant County Chamber of Commerce along with the city of Ulysses will be shooting off their fireworks at dusk on Saturday from the Ulysses airport near the north edge of town. “We’ve got extra donations this year because it’s our centennial year,” said Marietta Hauser, the chamber’s director. “The fireworks performance will be three times the size of normal this year.” From 1 to 5 p.m. on Saturday, the Centennial Celebration Committee also will be hosting a photo display and ice cream social at the Historical Adobe Museum, 300 E. Oklahoma, in Ulysses. Pioneering families in the community will be recognized and honored, and there will be live music by the Centennial Band, Hauser added.
- The Scott City Area Chamber of Commerce, the city of Scott City and eight other local sponsors will have a fireworks display on the east side of Scott City at about 10 p.m., said chamber director Katie Eisenhour. “We’re doing things a little different this year because we’ve realized people would much rather celebrate in the comfort of their family and friends,” Eisenhour said. “People are invited to watch the display but to stay a safe distance away from its location.”
- A fireworks display will be shot off after dark on Saturday from the Hugoton High School football field, sponsored in part by the Hugoton Chamber of Commerce. A Fourth of July celebrations begin at 8:30 a.m. that day in the north central part of the city park and continues until noon with contests for kids and more than 35 booths with food, games and crafts. Chamber staff said hundreds attend the Stevens County Fourth of July festivities each year.
- In Greeley County, a bicycle parade and national anthem program begin at 7:30 p.m. at the Greeley County High School football field. Fireworks begin at about 9 p.m. MST at the same location, said Christy Hopkins, director of Greeley County Community Development.
On the Web:
Garden City Downtown Vision Inc.: www.gcdowntown.com
Lee Richardson Zoo: www.garden-city.org/zoo
Garden City Recreation Commission: www.gcrec.com
What else is going on this weekend? Add your events to the community calendar.
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