By Beacon Staff
There’s no doubt about it – the annual Fourth of July Celebration on Broadway Street in West Burlington is going to be explosive Monday.
West Burlington city councilman and event organizer Andy Crowner compared the event to a John Mellencamp music video.
“It’s just a good time, celebrating our country. Good food and fun,” he said.
As usual, the celebration will last the entire day, filling Broadway Street with vendor booths, games, inflatables, live music, a dunk tank, water fights, and a worship service among other things. As is the tradition, the celebration will end with a fireworks display starting at 10:01 p.m. Crowner said the closer you are to the fireworks, the better.
“I don’t know how many people have watched the fireworks from Broadway Street, but if you haven’t, you should. It’s pretty cool,” he said.
New to this year’s celebration is “The Little Squirts Waterfights” from noon to 3 p.m.
“The fire department is going to have some small hoses,” he said.
The celebration will kick off with a pancake breakfast from 6 to 10 a.m. at the West Burlington Fire Department. The Relay for Life Craft and Vendor Show will start at 7 a.m., and bicycle races will begin at 9 a.m. at Westland Mall. Registration begins at 8 a.m. There will be a praise service from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. As the praise service ends, the inflatables, dunk tank, and kids games will begin at 11:30 a.m.
The Cruise Day Display (featuring classic cars, trucks, and motorcycles) will start at 10 a.m. and bingo will be held from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. inside West Burlington City Hall.
The River City Baggers Bag Tournament will start at noon, and the Kid’s Parade is set for 3:45 pm., traveling from Huston Street from Ramsey Street to Broadway Street. The annual Fourth of July Parade starts at 4 p.m. and will travel down Huston Street from Westland Mall.
The Broadway Bullfrog Race will start at 7 p.m. (followed by a bullfrog sale), and the raffle drawing will be at 8 p.m.
The Music
There will be live music throughout the day from the Deery Brothers Stage, starting at 11:30 a.m. with Sean Kistler. The It’s Electric Entertainment Kids Talent Show starts at 1:30 p.m.
More live music will return in the evening, with Jarrod Hogan and South 55 taking the stage at 5 p.m. Chicago’s hottest dance party band, First Dance, will headline the night of entertainment at 8:30 p.m.