There may not be a parade, but Elizabethton will be keeping the newest tradition of celebrating the Fourth of July downtown alive and well.
The city’s third annual Independence Day Celebration is scheduled to take place at Covered Bridge Park from noon to 4 p.m. on Monday, July 4, with a wide variety of events available to the public, according to Elizabethton Parks and Recreation Director Mike Mains.
“It may not be a parade, but we still have a lot of activities for the public,” Mains said.
Elizabethton’s Fire Department put the tradition red-, white- and blue-colored wreath on the Covered Bridge as a timeless tradition to set the backdrop for an event Monday.
Events for Monday include a special patriotic ceremony honoring servicemen and women while the Jerry Pierce and Retroville bands will perform through the afternoon.
Another parade of sorts will be available, with a kid’s patriotic bike parade and the Dancer’s Dreams Performing Arts Academy’s Covered Bridge Cloggers and Angel Steps Praise dance teams taking the stage at Covered Bridge Park.
The Dancer’s Dream Performing Arts Academy will also host the annual Miss Firecracker Pageant Monday under the direction of Amy Simmons.
The event features four different age groups: “Tiny Miss Firecracker” (three to five years old), “Little Miss Firecracker” (six to 10 years old), “Junior Miss Firecracker” (11 to 15 years old) and the “Senior Miss Firecracker” that goes from 16 years old and up.
A registration fee of $10 is needed to participate. While early registration is recommended, participants have until 1:15 p.m. on Monday.
Along with afternoon activities, citizens can expect a big bang at near the conclusion of the evening.
The Elizabethton Twins minor league team will hold its annual God and Country Night, sponsored by Borderview Christian Church, during the Twins and Bluefield Blue Jays contest, scheduled to begin at 7 p.m.
At the conclusion of the contest, Elizabethton’s fireworks show will be provided. The fireworks are sponsored by Snap-On Tools.
For more information, contact the Elizabethton Parks and Recreation facility at 423-547-6441.