The Blue Mound Independence Day celebration will be a daylong affair with parades and plenty of activities. (Journal file photo)
“Investing in a Bright Future” is the theme of this year’s Independence Day celebration in Blue Mound on Saturday, July 6. As always for the celebration, events start early and run throughout the day.
New events this year is a game of “Keep Your Chicken Quiet” in which a blind-folded person with a pool noodle tries to flog players wear squeaking “chicken” shoes as they try to avoid him or her. That game begins at 1:30 p.m. at the southeast corner of Third and Main streets.
At 1 p.m. the Best Beard Contest will be held at the city park near the shelter house. While competitors will receive points for width, length, fullness, style and personality, organizers suggest that the competitors don’t have to be males nor does the beard need to be natural.
The day starts with a slow-pitch softball tournament sponsored by the Blue Mound Ball Association at 8 a.m. At 9 p.m. the annual horseshoe pitch tourney starts at the west end of the city park. Games for children from infants to 5 years old also start at the park, and registration for the Chicken Drop begins then as well.
Speed demons on two wheels will take to Main Street for the bicycle races at 9:30 a.m. Starting point will be in front of the Blue Moon Youth Center.
Those who plan on being in the parades begin lining up at 10 a.m. with the adult parade lining up on the east end of Main Street. At 10:30 p.m. the kids parade participants begin lining up north of Main Street on Fourth Street.
Meanwhile, the turtle race registration begins at 10 a.m. in the city park, and registration for the kids tractor pull for 4- to 12-year-olds begins at 10:30 a.m. at the roller rink next to Blue Moon. The pull will begin immediately following the parade.
The kids parade starts at 11 a.m. followed immediately by the main parade with the theme “Investing in a Brighter Future,” this year with Farmer’s State Bank as the grand marshal.
Top prize for the best parade entry is $250, with second and third places earning $150 and $100 respectively. Prizes for first, second and third places will also be awarded to the best entries in the kids parade.
At noon, the turtle races begin at the intersection of Main and Second streets. Also during that time Blue Mound 4th of July committee will be selling hamburgers and hotdogs for lunch as will other vendors in the city park.
The Blue Moon will host a singing/karaoke contest at 12:30 p.m. At the same time, kids games begin in the city park for children 5 to 13 years old. Those games include bottle ring toss, tin can toss, bean bag toss, three-legged races and more.
Don’t forget the beard contest at 1 p.m. and the “chicken” whacking contest at 1:30 p.m.
At 2:30 p.m. the nail-driving relay begins behind the ball field concession stand.
The Blue Moon will offer kids and adults alike respite from the midday heat by showing “The Jungle Book” on the big screen starting at 3 p.m.
The Balloon Battleship will happen at the ball field at 3:30 p.m., and the inflatables will open at 5 p.m. at the ball field as well.
At 6 p.m., a “Selfie Scavenger Hunt” begins in front of the old school, and at 8:30 p.m. a kids dance party for children 13 and younger will begin at the ball field.
Finally, at dusk the pyrotechnic engineers will ignite yet another in a series of fireworks shows for which Blue Mound is known.
One final note, the final day to purchase fireworks in Blue Mound is Friday, July 5. The stand next to the Feed Lot Café will be open until 8 p.m. that day.
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