PARKERSBURG - A number of activities are planned in the Mid-Ohio Valley around the Fourth of July holiday, some occurring the weekend before, some on the holiday itself and the rest on the following weekend.
WOOD COUNTY
The annual fireworks show will be at 10 p.m. July 4 in City Park, with a rain date on July 5 if necessary.
Boats to the island on July 4 depart Point Park in downtown Parkersburg between 11 a.m.-4:30 p.m. The cost of the boat ride is $9 for adults and $7 for children ages 3 to 12. The island features mansion tours, wagon rides, bike rentals, snack stand and a gift shop.
Boat tickets can be purchase at the Blennerhassett Museum of Regional History at Second and Juliana streets in downtown Parkersburg. For more information, call the park office at 304-420-4800 or the visit the website at www.blennerhassettislandstatepark.com. The museum will be open from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. on the holiday.
Parade participants are asked to line up at the parking lot at the North Hills Pond beginning at 9:30 a.m. The parade will start and end at the parking lot, where it will be followed by refreshments, games, face painting, inflatables and activities.
The local veterans from American Legion Post 15 will walk in the parade and help with a flag ceremony after the parade. Prizes will be awarded for best floats and bicycles.
Performances will be 8 p.m. and include River City Brass Band on July 6, Mountain State Brass Band on July 7 and American Wind Symphony Orchestra Concert and fireworks on July 8.
WASHINGTON COUNTY
The parade route goes from Newport Elementary School on Charles Street through Newport. Lineup for the parade begins at 10 a.m.
Social activities after the parade will take place behind the fire department on Ohio 7 beginning at noon. There will be food, bingo, concessions, games, hay rides, a train ride, a country store and live entertainment by Caliber from 8:30-10 p.m. The social will end with a fireworks display at 10 p.m. Visitors are urged to bring lawnchairs.
The demolition derby will be 7:30 p.m. July 3, with pit gates opening at 2 p.m. and inspections from 3-7 p.m. General admission gates open at 2 p.m. General admission is $6 and the pit pass is $20.
The Southern Ohio Mud Bog Shootout, sponsored by the Washington County Fair Board, will have registration from 8:30-10:30 a.m. July 4 and the mud bog begins at 11 a.m.
General admission is $6, which includes rides. Gates open at 2 p.m. the first day and 8 a.m. on July 4. The fireworks will be at 10 p.m. July 4 at the fairgrounds.
The parade will start lining up at 9 a.m. at Fourth and Butler streets. The parade route will follow Fourth Street, Putnam Street, Second Street, Butler Street and Front Street before ending at the Ohio National Guard Armory building in the 200 block of Front Street.
Advance tickets through July 3 are $14 for adults and $6 for children under 12 and are available at Belrock Country Diner and the Belpre Area Chamber of Commerce office. Tickets will be $18 for adult and $10 for children on the day of the circus.
Proceeds will benefit Belpre Lions Club community projects.
Antique engine and tractor clubs and individuals are welcome to participate. The Beverly Lions Club and other vendors will serve food during the show and the fireworks. There will be drawings and raffle tickets for prizes. A tractor rodeo will be held at 1 p.m., along a tractor parade during the day.
Food will be available all day, beginning with a pancake breakfast at the Beverly Fire Station from 8-11 a.m. where food will be $5 for adults and $3 for children ages 12 and under. The B-W rescue squad will be present during the breakfast to offer free blood pressure screenings. Raffle tickets will be sold for a new truck - at a cost of $10 per ticket or $25 for three tickets - with the drawing to be held Aug. 21 during the Waterford community fair. Proceeds will benefit the fire department.
The annual community fireworks display in Beverly will be presented at Cadet Field at Fort Frye High School, sponsored by American Legion Post 389, at 10 p.m. July 4.
The social will start at 4 p.m. with a parade at Little Hocking Elementary School. There will be live entertainment, food and children's games.
Tickets are $5 each. There will be food concessions offered by the Lafayette Hotel with beer concessions by Budweiser.
The gate opens at 6 p.m. and the music runs from 7 p.m. to midnight. This year's musical lineup includes The Tee Dee Young Band of Lexington, Ky., Magic Mama of Gallipolis and Gary Applegate of Indianpolis.
Proceeds from the event benefit ReStore Marietta's downtown beautification and enhancement efforts, including the costs and maintenance of hanging the flower baskets, American flags and holiday decorations in downtown Marietta.
JACKSON COUNTY
Activities begin at 10 a.m. with opening ceremonies, The Grand Parade at noon, and conclude at 10 p.m. with fireworks following a day-long series of live entertainment and activities. This year's entertainers on July 4 include: Chase Likens at 11 a.m., Texaco Country Showdown at 2 p.m., No One You Know at 6 p.m. and Davisson Brothers at 8:30 p.m.
A carnival will be set up in the Ripley Municipal Parking Lot.
In addition to live entertainment and activities, the festival features more than 160 juried craftsmen ranging from traditional to contemporary arts and crafts. There will also be cooking demonstrations, educational classes, storytelling and other attractions.
For more information, go online to www.msacf.com.
WIRT COUNTY
The event kicks off with the Firemens Firecracker 5K Road Run and Fun Walk at 8 a.m. A fireman's parade through Elizabeth will be 11 a.m., with units to begin lining up at 10 a.m.
There will be refreshments, ice cream, raffles, door prizes and live entertainment from noon-10 p.m. at the fire station, including a live auction at 4 p.m.
The entertainers will include: Dayspring Gospel Band at noon; Kenny and Becky Smith and the Country Swingers Country Band at 2 p.m.; Still Crazy at 6 p.m.; Shep's Entertainment DJ and Dance from 8-10 p.m.
RITCHIE COUNTY
