Greencastle celebration to mark Fourth of July

The ninth annual Greencastle-Antrim July Fourth Celebration will be held from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday, July 4 at Tayamentasachta Environmental Center in the pavilion and walnut grove areas.

At 11 a.m. the invocation will be given, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance and the singing of The National Anthem.  A flag-folding ceremony, conducted by members of Cub Scout Pack 95, will be part of the opening ceremonies.  All veterans will be recognized, in addition to honoring Ben Bitner, who grew up in the Greencastle-Antrim community and who was recently killed during a tour of duty in Afghanistan.  

About 11:15 a.m., children ages 3 to 12 will gather in the all-purpose building just east of the pavilion for about 30-45 minutes to make a craft.  At noon, Russ Clever, as “grand marshal,” will lead the eighth annual Children’s Parade. The children will parade to patriotic marches in front of the staging area.  All children are invited to participate by wearing their July Fourth colors or “costumes.”  

After the Children’s Parade, the Most Patriotic Family contest will be held.  Families are invited to get into the July Fourth spirit, use their imaginations, and be as creative as possible in order to win.  Cash awards will be presented to the winning families. Registration for the Most Patriotic Family contest will be located at the pavilion. No pre-registration is required for the children’s parade.  

Immediately following the Most Patriotic Family contest, the annual July Fourth children's photograph will be taken in front of the bank-side barn doors. A high-resolution copy of the photograph will be available to download by parents upon entering the GA July 4th Celebration web page which can be accessed at www.greencastlemuseum.org  Each child will receive a bottle of bubble soap and several July Fourth mementos will be given away.  After that, the peanut and candy scramble will take place for the children.

The group “Wing and a Prayer” returns for everyone’s enjoyment to present live vocal and band music.  Many of the performers from the past nine years will be returning for this year’s event, including Barry and Mandy Stottlemyer, Dave Reeder and the Greencastle-Antrim Alumni Band. The day’s events will conclude with the finale God Bless the USA led by Dave Reeder and Barry Stottlemyer.

Beginning about 12:30, Thomas the Engine will be on the pavilion-area grounds to give rides to the young and young-at-heart. Thomas the Engine is owned by the Greencastle Area Organized Youth Foundation (GAOYF), which owns the Jefferson Street train station. A donation box will be provided on the train.  All donations support the GAOYF.

All community members are invited to join the festivities by bringing lawn chairs or a blanket and having a picnic lunch that they’ve prepared. On a first-come-first-served basis, picnic tables will be available.  For those who do not wish to prepare lunch ahead of time, Shady Grove Cub Scout Pack 95 will have hamburgers, hot dogs, water and soft drinks for sale.

The organizing committee encourages the residents, merchants, and businesses in the Greencastle-Antrim area to decorate their homes and places of business in red, white, and blue and to fly the flag, as our nation celebrates its 235th anniversary of Independence Day.

The event will be held rain or shine.  School district property is a non-alcoholic facility.  Donations will be accepted to cover overhead expenses of the GA July 4th Celebration.

For more information, call 597-9325 or visit the Greencastle-Antrim July 4th Celebration web page at www.greencastlemuseum.org