Masontown to host 4th of July celebration
?An event-filled Fourth of July celebration will occur Monday in Masontown as the borough comes together to celebrate Independence Day at German-Masontown Park.
Masontown Matters is sponsoring the all-day affair, and organizers are proud to say the borough is the only municipality in Fayette County to have events from morning until night on Monday.
“Our Fourth of July celebration began in the late 1980s as a small town gathering. It’s since grown, and with the help of dedicated volunteers and support of community members, has become an event that attracts people from both Fayette and Greene counties,” said Masontown Borough Councilwoman Kim Essig, who also serves as secretary with Masontown Matters.
Essig said the nonprofit civic group was formed a few years ago to bring life back to the borough and encourage activities and initiatives to promote a thriving town.
The event will begin at 9:30?a.m. when Boy Scouts Troop 654 and the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 4584 Color Guard raise the American flag. The Albert Gallatin Area Senior High School Fife & Drum Corp will provide music.
The traditional Masontown Rotary races for children ages 2 through 12 will be held at the park’s soccer field beginning at 10?a.m. A variety of races will be held, including dashes, sack and three-legged. Every child who participates will be eligible to win a new bicycle and helmet.
Shortly thereafter, the annual pet parade will be held from 10 to 11?a.m. Prizes will be given out to the prettiest/handsomest pet, the ugliest pet, best dressed pet, most unique pet and best in show.
HITS Tactical Defense/RFC Martial Arts will sponsor a martial arts exhibition from 10 to 11:30?a.m. on the main stage. And from 10?a.m. To 2?p.m. parents will be given an opportunity to create identification kits for their children.
Charles Dean will have a “living history” demonstration from 10?a.m. to 4?p.m., and face painting will take place from 10:30?a.m. to 2:30?p.m.
People wishing to register to take part in any of the pie, cake decorating or floral contest are asked to register between noon and 1?p.m. Voting for all the contests will occur between 3 and 5?p.m., with winners be announced and prizes being awarded.
A coloring contest for children will be held from noon to 2:30?p.m., and a clown and other costumed characters will be on hand to interact with children between noon and 5?p.m. Other activities for children include free bouncing inflatable attractions sponsored by TOP Inflatables of Morgantown, W.Va., and a free petting zoo and pony rides from 5:30 to 8:30?p.m.
Master magician Chuck Caputo will perform from 2:30 to 3:30?p.m. and will then walk around the park, mingling with people and performing slight-of-hand tricks.
The Kalivoda Dance Center will perform on the stage from 5 to 6?p.m.
As for musical entertainment, “FIAT,” a Christian rock band, will perform from 11:30?a.m. to 12:30?p.m. The “Gil Snyder Combo” will perform blues music in the performance tent from 1 to 2?p.m.
“The Vibrations” will take the stage from 2 to 4?p.m. and will be followed by “Gone South” who will perform Southern rock music in the performance tent from 4:30 to 7?p.m.
“Stereotype” will perform on the stage from 7 to 10?p.m.
Throughout the day, disc jockey “Dusty Joe” will spin records and a variety of food vendors will be located in the park. Game booths also will be up and running.
Fireworks will begin at dusk.
Event organizers stressed that parking is limited at the German-Masontown Park and that a free shuttle bus is being offered. People wishing to use the service are asked to park at the Masontown fire hall, located at 221 N. Washington St.
The shuttle will drop people off at the park and people wishing to leave the park are asked to go to the information booth and a shuttle will be called to pick them up.
Event organizers thanked everyone who donated to this year’s Fourth of July celebration, saying that the event would not be possible without their support.
Essig said more than 1,000 people generally attend Masontown’s celebration and that the borough’s fireworks display is known to be one of the best in the area.
For more information, visit online at www.masontownmatters.org.