Masontown to resume July 4 gala
MASONTOWN – After a brief hiatus, the annual Fourth of July celebration is up and running again and back at its original site: German-Masontown Park. The full day of activities for everyone from young to young at heart begins Thursday at 10 a.m. and continues until 10 p.m., according to borough council president Carole Daniels. Daniels, who is serving as Fourth of July committee chairman, said that last-minute preparations are being made to ensure that the event will be a success.
“We’ve really put this together in three weeks,” she said. “We have over 20 booths, three concession trailers and we are hoping for a nice turnout.”
Children’s races will be held, beginning at 10 a.m., and games for kids will go on throughout the day, while crafters and vendors will be busy, as well. Dusty Joe will provide music, and karate and dance demonstrations from area academies also are planned, Daniels said.
Food of all kinds will be available from the time the festival begins to the time it ends, when a traditional fireworks display will light the sky above the borough around 9:30 p.m.
She said Kings Transit of Waynesburg has donated vehicles for a free shuttle service that will take people from the top of the hill above the park down into the area where the celebration will be held. The service will run from noon to 10 p.m.
EMS Southwest will offer free blood pressure screenings, while families gather to celebrate the holiday with others in the community and elsewhere. Daniels said flyers have been distributed throughout Fayette and Greene counties to publicize the event, which she said is a welcome return to the community.
“We decided to kick it back up because we needed something to bring this community back together,” she said. “We hope it will be a great time for everyone.”
Given the short amount of time the committee had to prepare the event, Daniels said she is amazed by the amount of support the committee and the public have given. She said Masontown Mayor Walter Scarton and other members of the community have helped the committee by giving their time to ensure that Thursday’s event will be a success.
The event had been held every year for quite some time until lack of interest in organizing the celebration caused it to fall by the wayside.
Daniels said now that the festival is back, it is here to stay.
“We want everyone to come on out and have a good time,” she said.
For more information, call Daniels at 724-583-0232 or co-chairman Frank McLaughlin at 724-583-2356.