Town Readies for Fourth of July at Freedom Park - Bannon Gazette (Jun. 28, 1979)

THE BANNON GAZETTE Thursday, June 28, 1979 — 15¢

Town Readies for the Fourth of July at Freedom Park

Parade, chicken barbecue, and fireworks set for Wednesday; park "dried out nicely," says committee

BANNON — With the ground finally firm again after this month's storm, the Independence Day Committee says Freedom Park is ready for a full day of festivities next Wednesday, July 4.

The parade steps off at 10 a.m. from the common in front of the courthouse and will follow Thomas Street out to the park entrance. The Mountain Valley Middle School band will march, as will the Little League, the 4-H Club and the Grange, and Bill Lemke of Lemke AMC will have the new '79 Spirit in the procession and on display at the park through the afternoon. Committee chairman Walt Perreault asks that floats be lined up on the common by 9:30 and "finished, not nearly finished."

The Lions Club chicken barbecue opens at noon under the pavilion, $2.50 a plate for adults and $1.25 for children under twelve, with proceeds going toward new bleachers at the ballfield. Sally's Bistro will have pies and lemonade at the bandstand, and the Legion Auxiliary will again run the cake walk.

Afternoon games begin at 1:30 and include the sack race, the three-legged race, the greased pole and the annual tug-of-war between the Volunteer Fire Department and the Highway Department, which the Highway Department has won three years running.

The Bannon Town Band plays from the bandstand at 6 p.m., followed by the Catamounts, who will play dance music until dark.

Fireworks will be shot off from the lower end of the park shortly after sunset, put on by a licensed crew out of Burlington. The committee will begin setting up on the grounds Wednesday morning and asks that spectators stay clear of the staging area until showtime. Chairs may be set out on the grass from noon on.

Mayor Bob Wilber, who will serve as parade marshal, said he expects "the biggest turnout we've had in years." "This is Bannon at its best," the mayor said. "Our little slice of heaven, and I'd like every family in town to see it from the park on Wednesday night."

Chief Hagerty adds a word of caution. Though the storm earlier this month gave the Lowlands a good soaking, the fields have had two dry weeks since, and private fireworks are prohibited within town limits this year. The Volunteer Fire Department will have a truck on the grounds throughout the evening. "Let the fellows from Burlington handle it," the chief said. "We'd like to still have a park on the fifth."

Parking will be available behind City Hall and in the lot at Hough Middle School. Rain date is Saturday, July 7.

Anyone still wishing to enter a float or help with setup should contact Mr. Perreault at City Hall before Monday.