Enjoy Independence Day the Charles City way, July 3-7

All-Star Dogs Stunt Show, six different music acts and Kids Zone among offerings

To The Press

There will be plenty going on in Charles City on the Fourth of July, but that’s only part of the community’s five-day Independence Day celebration.

Headlining this year’s festivities will be six different live music acts, as well as a nationally known All-Star Stunt Dogs Show Friday and Saturday, July 5-6, according to information from the Charles City Chamber of Commerce.

There will be two parades — the Kids Day Parade in Central Park on Wednesday and the Independence Day Parade through downtown on Thursday.
Other activities include the Firecracker 5 races, Municipal Band concert and fireworks display on Thursday.

Food and beverage vendors, children’s activities and the Pubcrawlers’ beer garden will be in Central Park at select times Wednesday through Saturday, with a Kids Zone inflatable park offered on Saturday and the Bill Riley Talent Show on Sunday.

Chris Perondi’s All-Star Stunt Dogs will be featured in a series of five 30-minute shows over two days in Central Park.

A regular at the Minnesota State Fair, the canine stars of this show have appeared on “The Tonight Show,” “The Ellen DeGeneres Show,” “The Queen Latifah Show,” on Animal Planet, National Geographic, in the Rose Parade and in television commercials.

The act includes large and small dogs — all adopted from pounds and shelters across the country — doing a wide variety of tricks.

The act’s mission is to promote the importance of pet adoption, spaying and neutering, as well as to encourage people to be responsible pet owners.

The All-Star Stunt Dogs Show will take place at 5:15 p.m. and 8 p.m. on Friday, and at noon, 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Saturday.

Live music acts scheduled to perform in Central Park are Jesse Allen and Farm Rock Wednesday evening, Endless Summer following the parade on Thursday, Coyote Wild Friday night, and on Saturday evening local teen band The Spacemen, followed by the Danny Grause Band.

The Charles City Municipal Band will have its last performance of the season at 7:30 p.m. Thursday on the riverfront behind the public library. Scott Stroud, band director from Nashua-Plainfield middle school and high school, will serve as the conductor.

The band will perform traditional patriotic music as well as favorites from the big and small screen.

Registrations for the July 4 parade are still being accepted at the Charles City Area Chamber of Commerce. Entries will be accepted up to 10 a.m. Thursday, the day of the parade, but there will be late fee after June 29.

Parade line-up will begin at 8 a.m. on July 4, and participants should be in place by 9:30 a.m. to be included in the entry judging. Parade entries need to sign in on Cleveland Avenue the day of the event.

Trophies will be presented in several categories: best commercial/business entry; best organization/non-profit group entry; best open class entry; best antique vehicle; chamber choice and the mayor’s choice award.

The parade route will be down North Main Street, curving at the Main Street Bridge along Riverside Drive to North Jackson Street and ending at Richings Street. Those viewing the parade are encouraged to bring their own chairs or blankets to sit on.

For more information regarding the Independence Day Parade, contact the Chamber office at 641-228-42345 or info@charlescitychamber.com, or go to www.charlescitychamber.com.

CHARLES CITY INDEPENDENCE DAY SCHEDULE

All activities in Central Park unless noted

WEDNESDAY, JULY 3
• 10 a.m. – Kids Day Registration.
• 10:30 a.m. – Kids Day Parade.
• 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. – Free kids activities.
• 3-5 p.m. – Free Swimming at Lion’s Field Pool.
• 5-11 p.m. – Live music, food, beverages and activities.
• 5 p.m. – Jesse Allen on stage.
• 7 p.m. – Farm rock on stage.

THURSDAY, JULY 4
• 7:30 a.m. – Firecracker 5 Races (5K and 5 mile).
• 10:30 a.m. – Independence Day Parade downtown.
• 11:30 a.m.-4 p.m. – Food and beverages, children’s activities.
• Noon-4 p.m. – Endless Summer on stage.
• 3 p.m. – North Iowa Hospice memorial and butterfly release, Andres Memorial Park.
• 7:30 p.m. – Municipal Band patriotic concert along river behind Library.
• 10 p.m. – Fireworks show downtown.

FRIDAY, JULY 5
• 5-11 p.m. – Live music, food, beverages and activities.
• 5:15 p.m. – All-Star Dog Stunt Show.
• 6-10 p.m. Coyote Wild on stage.
• 8 p.m. – All-Star Dog Stunt Show.

SATURDAY, JULY 6
• 8 a.m. – CC Bike Ride/First Security Bank lot.
• 10 a.m. – 5th Annual Ron Turner Golf Tournament.
• Noon – Family Doubles Tennis Tournament.
• Noon – All-Star Dog Stunt Show.
• 1-7 p.m. – Kids Zone inflatables and activities.
• 3 p.m. – All-Star Dog Stunt Show.
• 5-11 p.m. – Live music, food, beverages and activities.
• 5-7 p.m. – Spacemen on stage.
• 7 p.m. – All-Star Dog Stunt Show.
• 7:30-10:30 p.m. – Danny Grause Band.

SUNDAY, JULY 7
• 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. – Dad’s Belgian Waffles, Columbus Club.
• 1 p.m. – Bill Riley Talent Show, 500 North Grand Auditorium.