The Celebrate America Fourth of July event at Highway Church of the Nazarene will be held on Sunday, June 27.
Gates will open and singing will begin at 5:30 p.m.
The event started around 1996-1997, according to church member Rod Vandyne.
“It started out being just a deal we did on Sunday afternoon for the church,” he said.
The event started as a patriotic presentation by the church choir one year when the Fourth of July landed on a Sunday.
It later moved outside, and a skit was added.
Homemade ice cream and watermelon was served to church members who attended.
“Around 2001, we decided to step it up and make it a church outreach,” Vandyne said.
In 2004, the event was first called “Celebrate America.”
That year, the event included inflatables, a dunk tank and the Signature Quartet.
The event, which started out with about 100 attendees, has grown to roughly 1,500 each year, “When the weather is good,” Vandyne said with a smile.
About four years ago, the event was almost “mudded” out.
“There was mud up to the ankles,” Vandyne said. “However, we still had it.”
The event started with just regular, commercial fireworks, but in the last few years Chris Davis has brought his equipment and expertise to the celebration.
The church sells meals for $2, and all other activities are free.
“At about 7 p.m., we have free ice cream and cobbler,” Vandyne said. “They usually go pretty quick.”
There are plenty of inflatables for children, along with pony rides and train rides.
“The kids really like those,” Vandyne said.
He said many people come and set up lawn chairs just to watch all the activities around them.
The celebration will have two singing groups, along with a skydiver who will land at the event.
Crystal Lake Fisheries will be bringing their fish pond out for those who would like to fish.
“We have a big, nice lawn, so it’s a good place to set up lots of activities,” Vandyne said.
The church event has now turned into a large, community-wide celebration.
“Since we’re out in the country, this is kind of a way to let people know we’re here,” Vandyne said.
