Whitewater’s annual 4th of July Free Family Festival is set for this weekend, July 1-4 at Cravath Lakefront Park, 312 Whitewater St.
Remembering, respecting and celebrating our nation’s freedom and independence is the mission of the event, supported by local sponsors and featuring numerous local vendors.
The festival features a parade, fireworks, car show, numerous musical acts and the Miss Whitewater Pageant – it will open the festivities tonight with the final portion of the pageant set for 7 p.m., Sunday.
The American Legion beer tent, local food vendors and the Christman Amusement carnival on the midway will be open all four days.
Carnival armbands will be available for $15 per session with sessions set for noon to 4 p.m. and 5 to 9 p.m., July 1, 2 and 3; and one session, noon to 4 p.m., July 5.
Musical acts will include: July 1 – Mr. Burgundy, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.; Glenn Davis & The Blues Commission (featuring Benny B on guitar), at 8 p.m.; July 2 – Distant Cuzins, 3 to 5 p.m.; Titan Fun Key, 6 p.m.; 5th Gear, 8:30 p.m.; July 4 – Steve Meisner, 2 to 4 p.m.; Andrus and The Mariners, 4:30 to 6 p.m.; Cherry Pie, at 8:30 p.m.
Fireworks displays are scheduled for 10 p.m., July 2 and July 3 – rain or shine – sponsored by The Coburn Company, the City of Whitewater and DLK Enterprise over Cravath Lake.
Parade, ski show & more
The annual 4th of July Parade is always a big draw for the festival. The theme is “Defending Our Freedom Over The Decades.”
Kids planning to ride in the parade are invited to decorate their bikes and get a free safety check between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. July 2 at BicycleWise & Sports Fitness, 1130 W. Main St.
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, ending at Fremont Street.
Three marching bands from Canada will be special guests in the parade: Calgary Round Up Band led by Mike Jewitt; Calgary Stampede Band led by Aaron Park; and Calgary Stetson Show Band led by Andrea Ciona.
Approximately 15 minutes before the parade the annual Whippet City Mile Run will begin. The course follows the parade route and is open to anyone looking to run their fastest mile in front of thousands lining the parade route. The final 7/10th of the mile cruises down hill into Whitewater’s downtown area. For more information about the race visit www.whippetcitymile.com.
On Saturday, Sunday and Monday, the Whitewater Historical Society Depot Museum will be open from1 to 4 p.m.
Sunday, July 3, is Kids Day and will feature a variety of activities for kids including: a children’s petting zoo from noon to 5 p.m., sponsored by Jo-Don Farms and the Kindschi Pedal Pulls will be held at 2 p.m.
The Minneiska Ski Team is set to perform at noon Saturday and Sunday on Cravath Lake.
Car show
The 32nd annual Whitewater Car and Bike Rally is from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on July 4, sponsored by First Citizens State Bank. The event is held at 312 Whitewater St.
Descending upon Whitewater for the show will include: antique cars, classic Mustangs and Corvettes, muscle cars, vintage motorcycles, sport bikes and touring bikes, mud trucks and custom sport race cars.
Registration for the car show and parade will begin at 8 a.m. Awards and trophies along with the raffle will be announced at 2 p.m.
Sponsors/food vendors
The 4th of July Free Family Festival in Whitewater is made possible through numerous sponsors, aptly called “Friends of the 4th.”
This year’s sponsors, listed alphabetically, include: 841 Brewhouse; Banco Insurance Agency; Binning & Dickens Insurance Services; Burns Industrial Supply; The City of Whitewater; CJW Company, Inc.; The Coburn Company; Cornwell Tools; Fairhaven Senior Services; Fero’s Auto Repair and Towing Services; First Citizens State Bank; Floral Villa; Fort Community Credit Union; Home Lumber; Kachel Family Foundation; KC Computers; Ketterhagen Motor Sales; Lowell C. Hagen Trucking Inc.; LSP Whitewater; Mac Tools; McCullough’s Prescriptions & Gifts; Mulberry Glen; Olm & Associates; Provisur; Rick’s Eastsider Pub; The Scharine Group Inc.; Dale and Gayle Stettler; Tincher Realty Inc.; The Triangle/Downtown Whitewater; Triebold Implement Inc.; Trostel Ltd.; Wallace McDonnell, Harrison, Williams & McDonnell; Whitewater Chiropractic LLC; Whitewater Manufacturing; Whitewater SnoSeekers Snowmobile Club; Whitewater Veterinary Hospital, S.C.; Winchester True Value.
Food vendors at the festival are all local, non-profit organizations so purchases directly support the Whitewater community.
All food and beverage purchases are handled with tickets (festival dollars), which can be purchased at information/ticket booths in $.50 increments and sheets of $10 increments.
This year’s food vendor participants include the American Legion, First United Methodist Church, Knights of Columbus, Whitewater Optimist Club, Whitewater Lions Club, Whitewater Lioness Lions Club, Whitewater Congregational United Church of Christ, Cristo La Roca, Whitewater Family Church, St. Patrick’s Hispanic Ministry and Living Savior Lutheran Church.
For additional details about the Whitewater 4th of July festival, visit www.ww4th.com.
