By Kim McDarison
The Fourth of July annual weekend-long celebration will kickoff in Whitewater on Friday, July 1, and conclude Monday, July 4, according to information supplied by the event’s organizers.
The event, which is held in and around Cravath Lakefront Park, is in its 21st year at that location. The event has an earlier “decade’s long” history at which time it was held in Whitewater’s Starin Park, according to Lisa Dawsey Smith who is a member of the event’s organizing committee.
This year, fireworks will be held Saturday and Monday at 10 p.m.
Fireworks will be discharged from a barge in Cravath Lake, and are viewable from several vantage points within the city, including Cravath Lakefront Park, which is located near the city’s downtown area.
Those attending fireworks displays are encouraged to provide their own seating by bringing lawn chairs and blankets.
In addition, amusements will be provided in Cravath Lakefront Park by Christman Amusements throughout the four-day weekend. Carnival rides will be available each day from noon until festival closing, organizers stated.
The full roster of activities begins Friday through Sunday at noon and ends on Friday and Sunday at 11 p.m. and Saturday at midnight.
On Monday, the day’s events begin at 9:45 a.m. and end at 11 p.m.
Opportunities to purchase wristbands are available each day with the exception of Monday.
Event-goers will also find an assortment of food venders near the amusements. Venders will be open for business Friday, from 5-11 p.m.; Saturday, noon to midnight; Sunday, noon to 6 p.m., and Monday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Several special events also will be hosted at Cravath Lakefront Park.
On Friday, the Miss Whitewater Pageant will be held beginning at 6 p.m.
An earlier story about the pageant is here: https://fortatkinsononline.com/miss-whitewater-pageant-registration-open-through-june-8/.
On Saturday, a car show will be available for viewing between 2 and 7 p.m. Live music also will be featured, with performances given by Gebel Girls at 2 p.m.; Amanecer, at 5 p.m., and Kings of Radio, at 8 p.m.
Visitors on Sunday will find a free petting zoo available between noon and 4 p.m. A service led by First United Methodist Church will commence in the park at 10 a.m.
Monday’s schedule of events includes a parade, scheduled to kickoff at 10 a.m., and live music performed by the Steve Meisner Band at 2 p.m. A second live music performance will be made by Titan Fun Key, beginning at 5 p.m. A final live music performance will be given by Cold Sweat at 8 p.m.
Runners in the Whippet City Mile event will line up at 9:45 a.m.
This year’s parade will begin at the corner of Prince and Highland streets, near Lincoln Elementary School, and will proceed three blocks north to Main Street. The parade will continue east through the city’s downtown, turning onto Whitewater Street for two blocks before concluding on Fremont Street. The full route is approximately one mile.
Intersections within the city will be closed by police in advance of the parade at 9:30 a.m.
Among those marching in the parade is Victor Gonzalez’ mariachi group, which will give a performance after the parade concludes.
Those with questions are encouraged to visit: whitewater4th.com.
This story has been updated.
The parade route, shown above, begins on Prince Street, moves through the city’s downtown, and concludes on Fremont Street. Contributed graphic.
Parade entrants exit Whitewater’s Main Street during the Fourth of July parade held in 2013. File photo/Kim McDarison.
From the archives: Fort Atkinson Online has found this video taken by editor Kim McDarison among things we’ve kept in the archives. The video shows a collection of clips taken as Fourth of July parade entrants leave Main Street in Whitewater at the conclusion of the parade in 2013. (Kim McDarison video.)
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