Weekend-long festival kicks off tonight
By Tracy Ouellette
Editor
The East Troy Lions Club is holding it annual Fourth of July celebration Thursday through Sunday at the East Troy Amusement Park, 3072 Graydon Ave.
“This is our biggest fundraiser of the year and the money raised to give back to the community and the organizations we support,” Lion Kevin Mikes, event coordinator, said.
“A lot of people think the village puts on the parade, but everything going on this weekend is organized by the Lions,” Mikes said. “We fund the parade, the fireworks and, of course, we are the main hosts of the celebration – we do it all.”
But not without a lot of help, Mikes continued. “We have other organizations helping out, we couldn’t do along. We have the East Troy FFA kids to help clean up, and with the general housekeeping. The Lionesses are instrumental in the food stand and all the work there and they also help out at the with the beer tent.”
New fireworks, wristband times
The Lions have moved the fireworks date and time to dusk on Friday. There is no rain date.
Also changed this year is the wristband times for the carnival. The new wristband times are: 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Thursday, 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Friday, and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday. Regular ride tickets or Megabands must be purchased at for all other times.
“Megabands are good for all four days, and all hours,” Mikes said. “It’s a great deal and we encourage people to buy the Megabands.”
Carnival times are: 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. on Thursday, 3 p.m. to 11 p.m. on Friday, noon to 11 p.m. on Saturday, and 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Sunday.
Wristbands can be purchased in advance for $16 ($20 at the festival). Megabands can be purchased for $40 in advance ($50 at the festival). Single ride tickets are $1 each or 30 for $25.
Discounted armbands can be purchased in advance at these East Troy businesses: Gus’s Drive-In, 3131 Main St.; Citizens Bank inside Piggly Wiggly, 3238 Main St.; and Citizen Bank – East Brooke office, 2541A E. Main St.
Parade
The “Remember Our Past and Look to the Future” parade steps off at 1 p.m. on Sunday, July 5. The annual tribute to Independence Day will feature the Racine Kilties Drum and Bugle Corps, Pioneer Drum and Bugle Corps, Blue Saints Drum and Bugle Corps, East Troy High School Band, Sun Prairie Marching Band, Red Hot Dixie Jazz Band, local fire department, elected officials, businesses, civic groups and more.
The Kiddie Parade is 1 p.m. on Saturday at the Amusement Park grandstand.
Car show, truck pull
The 14th annual East Troy Lions Car Show will be at East Troy Middle School, 3143 Graydon Ave., from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday.
The event is held rain or shine and will be staffed by the Kettle Moraine Classic Car Club.
“They’ll be there to help organize things and keep it running smoothly,” Mikes said.
The truck and tractor pulls are also Saturday, beginning at 9 a.m. with the garden tractor pulls and the truck and tractor pulls beginning at 1 p.m. at 2021 West St.
Midwest Tractor & Truck Pulls will run the event with multiple divisions.
Beer tent
The Lions Club will man a beer tent, featuring Miller products and daily live music all four days of the festival.
The tent will be open 5 p.m. to 1 a.m. on Thursday, 3 p.m. to 1 a.m. on Friday, noon to 1 a.m. on Saturday, and noon to 8 p.m. on Sunday.
Musical acts include: Bella Cain, 8:15 p.m. on Thursday: Mount Olive, 8:15 p.m. on Friday; Dirty Boogie at 3:30 p.m. on Saturday; Oil Can Harry at 8:15 p.m. on Saturday; and The Poor Boys at 2 p.m. on Sunday.
Picture ID is required in the beer tent and there is a $5 admission fee. The Lions also have a Designated Drive program available.
The East Troy Beer Tent Ride is Sunday at Gus’s Drive-In. Registration is at 11:30 a.m. with the ride living at 12:30 p.m. and about a dozen stops in Walworth County before ending at the beer tent.
Tournaments
The festival is hosting several tournaments throughout the weekend a new two-day softball tourney on Friday and Saturday. The Luck of the Draw dart tournament will be at noon in the beer tent, $10 entry fee with a chance to cash prizes. There will also be wrist wrestling in the beer tent at 5 p.m. on Saturday.
Raffle
The Lions are offering a chance to win either a 2015 Harley-Davidson Street Bob motorcycle, 2015 Chevy Spark, 2015 Polaris Ranger or $12,000 cash as the grand prize in its annual Fourth of July raffle. The second-place prize is $600; third-place, $300; and fourth-place, $100.
Raffle tickets are $10 a piece or three for $25 and can be purchased at Rhode’s Towing, 2489 E. Main St., Gus’s Drive-In, or from any East Troy Lions Club member.
The raffle will be at 6 p.m. on Sunday in the beer tent.
For more information, visit easttroylions.org.
