Douglas County may not have the biggest single Fourth of July celebration going. But for three separate events, each sponsored by different organizations in different locations, this community really knows how to celebrate.
The 28th annual Squires Picnic and 4th of July Celebration Saturday night brought conclusion to the celebrations that began over a week earlier with the big community event at Heart of the Ozarks Healthcare Center on June 25. That was followed on Sunday, June 27, with Celebrate America at Highway Church of the Nazarene north of Ava.
Just like the previous two events, the Squires Picnic on Saturday night, July 3, brought out a huge crowd of folks who came early and stayed late.
The Squires program, held on the grounds of the Squire Fire Department, is the original 4th of July event for this area and has traditionally drawn crowds from a wide area. Some come for the entertainment, some for the fireworks, and some for the food and kids games that are offered.
But a lot of people just come to see their friends and neighbors, to enjoy an evening of visiting in a relaxed atmosphere not found in most gatherings of that magnitude.
Of course, this year’s event had one other draw – politicians.
Everyone who is running for anything in the county, as well as state and regional candidates, took advantage of the opportunity to see a lot of voters in one location.
Live entertainment by local talent always draws a crowd. And the mix was just right this year, with bluegrass by Spring Creek and Hunter Creek, country-western by Rolla Swofford and Cindy Smith, and the southern gospel of the Heritage Singers.
There was homemade ice cream to top off the burgers and hot dogs, and no carnival would be complete without cotton candy and popcorn, both of which were also available at Squires.
The evening concluded with a big fireworks show that enticed cars to stop along busy Highway 5 for the patriotic display.
