City’s free family festival is set for July 3-6
Whitewater annual Fourth of July Free Family Festival is set for July 3-6 at Cravath Lakefront Park, 312 Whitewater St. in Whitewater.
Everything at the celebration is paid for by local sponsors, including numerous Whitewater small business owners.
“Whitewater’s Fourth of July Festival is all about celebrating our freedom and independence for our families, friends and community. We have a strong and generous community that makes this celebration possible,” says the Whitewater Fourth of July Festival Committee.
The festival features a parade, fireworks, car show, multiple musical acts and returning for its second year, the Miss Whitewater Pageant, which opens the festivities at 5 p.m. on July 3.
The American Legion Beer Tent, food vendors, music and Christman Amusement carnival on the midway will be open all four days.
This year, three fireworks displays are planned over Cravath Lake on July 4, 5 and 6, all at 10 p.m. The July 4 show is sponsored by The Coburn Company and the July 6 show is being sponsored by the City of Whitewater. As of press time, a sponsor had not been named for the July 5 show.
One of the week’s highlights is Fourth of July Parade. This year’s theme is “Flags of Our Forefathers” with World War II veterans Bill Miles and Al Kolmes serving as parade marshals.
Miles served in the U.S. Army for three years during WWII. He was stationed in Europe for 1-1/2 years and spent time in England, France, Belgium and Germany as a corporal in the Military Police. After the war, he enlisted in the Wisconsin National Guard and was discharged as a second lieutenant in 1952. He took part in the defensive phase of the Battle of the Bulge from Dec. 16, 1944, to the early days of January 1945.
Miles worked for the state environmental department until his retirement and was the county service officer for the VFW and American Legion for 24 years.
Kolmos enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Force in September of 1941. He went to Weather Observation School and graduated with the rank of staff sergeant and was assigned to England with the 8th Army Air Force Bomber Group, which flew combat missions in Europe. He was promoted to sergeant and later Warrant Officer and assigned to Officer Candidate School and commissioned as a second lieutenant in 1947.
He was stationed in many places over the years: England, North Carolina, Westover Ma, Greenland, Maxwell Field, Germany, Denmark and Spain. He was discharged in 1964 after 23 years as a Major. He pursued his college education under the GI Bill, earned his Degrees and taught at UW-Whitewater before retiring in 1988.
“Both Al and Bill have been outstanding citizens of Whitewater who served their country very well and they are to be thanked for their service and will be in the Parade riding in a 1943 Willy’s Jeep provided by Dominic Sergi of Elkhorn,” stated parade organizer Bernie Tangney in a press release.
The parade is organized by The Whitewater Lions Club and steps off at 10 a.m. on July 4, at Lincoln School on Prince Street, travels to Main Street, then on to Whitewater Street and ending at Fremont Street.
July 6 brings the 29th annual Whitewater Car Show from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. The event is held at 312 Whitewater St.
The show has 17 classes with first, second and third place prizes, plus Best of Show. Trophies will be awarded at 3 p.m.
Vehicles to see include original or restored cars, street machines, street rods, Corvettes, 4x4s, lowriders, custom and leadsleds, trucks, vans and motorcycles (foreign and domestic).
Food vendors at the festival are all non-profit, local service groups and churches. Food purchases help support these organizations and the work they do in the community.
All food and beverage purchases are handled with tickets (festival dollars), which can be purchased at information/ticket booths in $.50 increments and/or sheets of $10 increments.
This year’s participants include the American Legion, First United Methodist Church, Knights of Columbus, Whitewater Optimist, Whitewater Lions Club, Whitewater Lioness Lions Club, Congregational UCC, Whitewater Youth Soccer, Cristo La Roca, St. Patricks Hispanic Ministry, and Living Savior Lutheran Church.
For additional details, visit www.ww4th.com
Schedule of events
Wednesday, July 3
5 p.m. – festival opens
5 p.m. – Miss Whitewater Pageant
8-11:45 p.m. – The Now, www.thenowband.com
Midnight – festival closes
Thursday, July 4
9:45 a.m. – Whippet City Mile Run
10 a.m. – festival opens
10 a.m. – Whitewater 4th of July Parade
Noon – Minneiska Ski Show, Cravath Lake
1-3 p.m. – The Smage Brothers Motorcycle Stunt Show, www.smagical.com
2:45-3:15 p.m. – The Smage Brothers Motorcycle Stunt Show
10 p.m. – fireworks sponsored by The Coburn Company
Midnight – festival closes
Live Music Stage
1:30-2:45 p.m. – Steve Meisner Band, www.stevemeisner.com
3:15-4:30 p.m. – Steve Meisner Band
5-7:30 p.m. – TBA
8:15-11:45 p.m. – Cold Sweat and The Brew City Horns, www.cold-sweat.com
Friday, July 5
5 p.m. – festival opens
10 p.m. – fireworks
Midnight – festival closes
Live Music Stage
6-8 p.m. – Euphoria
8-11:30 p.m. – Flight (Eagles tribute band), www.flight-eagles.com
Saturday, July 6
Noon – festival opens
Noon – Minneiska Ski Show, Cravath Lake
Following ski show – Magic of Bob Bohm, www.bohmsmagic.com
Noon-4 p.m. – Children’s Petting Zoo, ponsored by Dalee Water Conditioning
2 p.m. – Kindschi Pedal Pulls
Following Pedal Pull – Survivor Family Game Show, www.bohmsmagic.com
10 p.m. – fireworks sponsored by the City Of Whitewater
Midnight – festival closes
Live Music Stage
4-6 p.m. – Jesus Riders
6-8 p.m. – Titan Fun Key, www.reverbnation.com/titanfunkey
8-11:30 p.m. – The Glenn Davis All Star Band, www.silvermoonblues.com
