Big Sandy region to celebrate 4th of July with numerous events

By Lilly Adkins

BSN Associate Editor

Independence Day events will be held all over the Big Sandy region, with most of the events being hosted prior to the 4th of July.

Lawrence County will hold a Bicentennial Independence Celebration on Friday, July 1, and Saturday, July 2.

On Friday, the Lawrence County Public Library will have a bicentennial display beginning at 9 a.m. Concessions will open at 4 p.m., with opening ceremonies beginning at 6 p.m. at Main Street Park. Rachel Messer will have the opening prayer and sing “The Star-Spangled Banner.”

Adam Chaffins and Brit Taylor will perform from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m., and Messer with Conner Dale will perform from 8:20 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.

On Saturday, beginning at 8 a.m. there will be a Bicentennial History Hike around Louisa, beginning at the Fred M. Vinson Museum. From 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., historical displays will be open to the public at the Lawrence County Public Library.

Beginning at 10 a.m., inflatables, a bouncy house, archery and a dunking booth will be open along with arts and crafts tents and rubber ducky sales.

At 10:30 a.m., the Fred M. Vinson Museum and concessions open.

The Bicentennial Parade with former Gov. Paul Patton as grand marshal will begin at 11 a.m., with the lineup beginning at 10 a.m. in the Louisa Plaza.

At noon, commencement and a Louisa Trace presentation with Eric Clevenger and Patton will be held with a brass band at the main stage. “The Star-Spangled Banner” and “My Old Kentucky Home” will be performed by the Scott Smith Percussion Band.

From 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. gospe and bluegrass music will be on the Main stage. Other performances include Living Water at 1 p.m., West Liberty Mountain Boys at 1:45 p.m., J.B. Messer at 2:30 p.m., and Savanna and Zach Wright at 3:15 p.m. Michelle Wallace will be MC.

Lawrence County Judge-Executive Phillip Carter posted on his Facebook page that a hot dog, watermelon and blueberry pie contest would take place between bluegrass acts and that he needs eight contestants for the pie-eating contest. Anyone who is interested in being a contestant should call his office at (606) 638-4102 and press option 4.

Dee’s Drive Inn in Louisa will also have a hot dog eating contest right after the parade at the city park. Registration is $5 and can be paid at Dee’s. The money will be given to charity. The winner of the contest will be given a $100 gift certificate for Dees, a trophy and a championship T-shirt.

Dee’s will also be featuring a bicentennial burger until July 4 and advises customers to put their name in the box for a drawing of $500.

Several other restaurants are also featuring their own special burger during the event.

Magician and balloon artist Mark Woods will be doing magic in the tent at 1:30 p.m. and walking around making balloon art at 2:30 p.m. before going back into the tent at 3:30 p.m. to do more magic.

A Cruise In Bicentennial Vintage Car Show, sponsored by Chaswade Moran and Lawrence County Motorsports Authority, will line up at 10 a.m. at the Louisa Plaza with the parade. The Bicentennial Vintage Car Show will be at 1:30 p.m. at the courthouse on Main Cross after the parade.

The rubber ducky drop into the Levisa River will take place at 4 p.m.

Hot air balloon rides will be from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the ‘new soccer field.’

From 6 p.m. to 7 p.m., Alan “Corduroy” Brown will perform; 7:30 p.m. to 8:20 p.m., The Carpenter Ants Band; and 8:50 p.m., M.F.B. Band with Funkle Sam will perform.

At 9:45 p.m., the Louisa Fire Department will close the celebration with the annual fireworks display.

Louisa Police Chief Greg Fugitt posted an announcement to remind people that the city of Louisa has a fireworks ordinance.

“Fireworks may be used on July 3rd and July 4th between 10:00am till Midnight, any other displays or uses must file for a permit through the city clerk’s office and be approved by the fire chief and the mayor,” Fugitt said in his announcement. “Applications must be submitted 15 days prior to the display or use of the fireworks.”

Violators of the ordinance will be fined $500.

Anyone with questions is advised to contact city hall at (606) 638-4050.

Lawrence County Tourism along with A Ray of Hope, Phil Carter, Vince Doty, Lawrence County Fiscal Court and the Lawrence County Sheriff, will sponsor an Independence Day Boat Parade at Yatesville Lake Marina on Saturday. Games and activities will start at 3 p.m., and the parade starts at 5 p.m. There will be two winners and two grand prizes. The event will consist of a boat parade, kid’s games, food, arts and crafts. Arts and Crafts vendors are welcome to bring a table and donate one new, unopened toy to A Ray of Hope. To sign up, call (606) 371-2091.

Fallsburg is celebrating on July 1 at Creekside Cabins and RV. A parade is at 4 p.m. through Fallsburg, starting at the Falls Creek Campground.

On July 2, the Blaine Volunteer Fire Department will present fireworks and Fun in the Park at the Blaine Community Center at 14 Big Laurel Creek Road from 4 p.m. to fireworks. There will be music, corn hole and a silent auction as well as inflatables for kids, a water slide and bounce house. Those attending are asked to bring a lawn chair. The Blaine Volunteer Fire Department will also be selling concessions.

Chapman Park, located off Chapman on Rt. 1690, will also host fireworks with inflatables and more starting at 7 p.m. Fireworks will begin at dark. Randy’s Red, White and Blue Backyard BBQ will provide free hamburgers and hot dogs with sides, thanks to a donation of $800 from the Lawrence County Tourism Commission for the food. Everyone is welcome.

On July 3, the Louisa First United Methodist Church will hold its 175th year special 6 p.m. service.

In Inez, there will be an Independence Day celebration on July 2, beginning at 6 p.m., at the Collier Center with a parade, handmade crafts, toys, watermelon, live music, Dashing Sons, Kona Ice, Cassady’s BBQ, hot dogs, and the Kiwanis famous lemonade.

A parade sponsored by the Martin County Kiwanis Club will start at 6:30 p.m., with lineup at the Ray Fields Park located by the swimming pool at 6 p.m.

The Inez Volunteer Fire Department will close out the night with its annual fireworks display.

For information on becoming a vendor during the event, call (606) 298-7766.

Paintsville Tourism is sponsoring a weekend of events to celebrate the 4th of July.

On July 1, beginning at 7 p.m. at the SIPP Theatre, Tim Michaels, C.J. the D.J. and Tommy Webb will perform at a cost of $10 for all three.

On July 2, beginning at 8 a.m., a Farmer’s Market sponsored by the Paintsville Beautification Committee will be in the city parking lot. At 5 p.m., the Mountain HomePlace will have fun on the farm, train rides, games and a rock wall at $5 per person. A Block Party will also be held in the Paintsville city parking lot beginning at 5 p.m. on July 3.

On July 3, there will be a live music show, a cornhole tournament at Alley on Main, beginning at 6 p.m., that is free to the public. At dark, fireworks will be held.

In Floyd County, the Prestonsburg Fire Department picked up its July 4 fireworks display from Lynch Imports LLC on June 24 and is getting things ready for its annual display.

The Prestonsburg Fire Department advised on its Facebook page that they are in the setup process and will be moving items and equipment on the roadway via side by sides and trailers. They ask that the public be courteous and cautious as their safety is a vital part of the setup process.