Holiday at Home lists 4th of July events

VW independent/submitted information

Van Wert’s Holiday at Home event is a hometown Fourth of July celebration for residents of the city and surrounding area. The festivities began 33 years ago due to the increase in gasoline prices at the time, in order to provide area residents with hometown Independence Day activities they can attend without having to spend a lot of money getting there.

Activities begin Friday, July 1, with a Fountain Park Summer Music Series concert performed by the Lima Pops Orchestra called the “Star-Spangled Spectacular”. The concert, which begins at 7 p.m. in the park, includes patriotic and American music that sets the tone for the upcoming Fourth of July celebration. There will also be food service that evening, starting at 5:30, in the park.

On Monday, July 4, the day starts off with a Pancake & Sausage Breakfast hosted by Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 5803 in Van Wert. The breakfast runs from 7-11 a.m. at the post home, 111 N. Shannon St. (corner of Shannon and Jackson streets).

Also that morning will be the 23th annual Bike Tour through Van Wert County. The tour, sponsored by the Van Wert County Historical Society, begins and ends at Jubilee Park, with pre-registration and day of race registration available. For more information, contact Lionel Enyart.

The annual Fourth of July Parade will begin at 11 a.m. The parade lineup will be on Cherry Street, next to the YWCA of Van Wert County. The parade will proceed down Main Street to the Van Wert Family YMCA, where it will turn north and end on Jackson Street.

Prizes are awarded for various parade categories. For a parade form or more information, contact Linda Stutz at 419.238.4192 until 4 p.m. and 419.238.2901 after 4:30 in the afternoon.

The Van Wert County Historical Society will having a number of activities and events on the grounds of the county museum, corner of Washington and Third streets. Lean about Van Wert by walking through and viewing all the historical displays, an herb garden, the museum barn, one-room schoolhouse, log cabin, railroad caboose, the museum mansion, and annex. The entire afternoon is accompanied by music in the gazebo on the museum grounds, while Van Wert Rotary Club members will serve food. For more information, call Theresa Mengerink at 419.238.3035.

Of course, a Fourth of July celebration would be much without a spectacular fireworks display, and that is provided by American Fireworks on the grounds of Van Wert High School-Middle School complex. Area residents can watch a fireworks display they won’t soon forget, starting at dusk (approximately 10 p.m.). Fireworks are made possible through a grant from the Van Wert County Foundation.