Birthday bash — America’s 250th celebration planned for 4th of July

From a community pancake breakfast and parade to a patriotic laser show after dark, Newcastle residents and visitors will have a full slate of activities to celebrate Independence Day and America’s 250th birthday on July 4.

Kirk Will with Newcastle VFW Post 2516 and American Legion Monroe-Bland Post 3 outlined plans for the community celebration during the June 15 Newcastle City Council meeting, describing an event organizers say has drawn significant local support and participation.

The day will begin at 8 a.m. with a free pancake breakfast at the First Northern Bank parking lot. According to Will, members of the Newcastle Volunteer Fire Department will prepare and serve the meal.

The Fourth of July parade will follow, with participants lining up at Newcastle High School beginning at 9 a.m. and the parade stepping off down Main Street at 10 a.m.

Will told council members the parade has attracted about 35 entries.

“We’ve got stage coaches, wagons, we’ve got a bagpipe band coming in as one of them,” he said. “There’s just (so) many things.”

He noted that participants from Upton will also be joining the celebration.

Following the parade, a reenactment of a speech given on April 25, 1903, by President Theodore Roosevelt in Newcastle will be held on the steps of the Weston County Courthouse. Local resident Mark Stenson will portray Roosevelt during the presentation, scheduled for approximately 11 a.m.

Additional entertainment will continue throughout the afternoon.

At 11:30 a.m., the Weston County Handbell Choir will perform at Hometown Medical. Activities then shift to the Weston County Fairgrounds, where vendors, games and family activities will be available from 1 to 7 p.m.

According to Will, approximately 20 vendors are expected to participate.

“We have had so many people contact us, and this whole thing is going to be unbelievable,” he said. “I mean, it’s going to be great.”

Fairgrounds activities will include children’s games, cornhole and a dunk tank. Organizers also plan a community barbecue and potluck dinner beginning at 4 p.m. beneath the Clay Ertman Memorial shelter.

The celebration will conclude with a patriotic laser show at the fairgrounds beginning at dusk.

Will told council members that organizers initially explored hosting a drone show but found the cost prohibitive.

“We had originally contacted a drone show, but $150,000 was a little hard to come up with,” he said.

Instead, organizers selected a laser presentation expected to last between 30 and 45 minutes.

According to promotional materials, attendees are encouraged to bring lawn chairs and blankets for activities at the fairgrounds.

The community-wide event is being sponsored by Newcastle VFW Post 2516 and American Legion Monroe-Bland Post 3, with support from numerous volunteers, organizations and local businesses.

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