Fourth of July fun lasts for days

Wellington

A lot of celebrating is scheduled for the Fourth of July holiday in the village, including the traditional parade and a three-day blitz of food and entertainment at the Eagles facility at 228 N. Main St.

Festivities in the village actually begin on Thursday, July 3, with a 7 p.m. concert by the Patriots Community Band and an old fashioned ice cream social on the square, sponsored by Lorain Medina Rural Electric Cooperative. Fireworks, sponsored by the Wellington Chamber of Commerce will also be provided on Thursday at dusk at the Fairgrounds. Donations toward the cost of the fireworks will be accepted. In the event of rain, the fireworks will be set off on July 6.

On the Fourth of July, the festivities include a pet parade which begins at 11 a.m. in the square. There will be special music there as well from noon to 2 p.m.

Games for kindergartners through adults will begin at 1 p.m. Parade line-up begins at 2:30 p.m. at McCormick Middle School with the parade starting at 3 p.m.

Parade marshals this year will be members of the Wellington Masonic Lodge #127 who are celebrating the 200th anniversary of Masonry in Ohio.

Master of ceremonies for the parade is Virginia Haynes, Wellington Township trustee.

Games for kids four and younger begin at 4 p.m. and there will be special music in the village square from 4-6 p.m. A frog jumping contest begins at 4:30 p.m.

At 7 p.m., the Community Band will perform in front of Town Hall.

One block north of the square, at the Eagles Aerie, a car and motorcycle show will be held from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., on Friday, July 4, followed by a motorcycle skills competition.

There will be food and refreshments available and a disc jockey playing music.

On Saturday, July 5, from 1-7 p.m., a chicken or BBQ rib dinner will be available for sale. From 7-11 p.m., ET King and the Determination will be playing jazz and blues, live.

On Sunday, July 6, there will be a pancake and sausage breakfast from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Eagles. Bald Paul's Blues Band will play Irish, country and bluegrass music from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. All of the Eagles events will take place in the parking lot. All events are open to the public.

Rochester

The 89th annual Fourth of July homecoming will be held on Friday, July 4 at the Eagle Street Park and fire station in Rochester.

The food tent opens at 8 a.m. and will be open all day and evening. Coffee and goodies will be served in the morning and hot dogs, a variety of sandwiches, french fries and beverages will be available for lunch and dinner. Homemade ice cream will also be sold throughout the day by the Rochester Flares.

Parade registration will begin at 9 a.m. until 10:15 a.m. Entry is free and all are welcome. The parade begins at 10:30 a.m. and is free. It will include bands, floats, kids, cars, fire trucks, 4-H groups, horseback riders and anything/anyone else that may come along. This is the only parade you get to see twice. The parade goes down the street, turns around, and comes back a second time.

Fourteen different categories are judged in the parade. First, second, and third place winners are announced in each category. The winners from the parade will be announced at the park during the early evening.

The Historical Society will have an open house on South Street from noon to 5 p.m. The 21st Ohio Volunteer Light Artillery (OVLA) will be in the parade. After the parade they will be demonstrating their third ordinance rifle (cannon) with its original Civil War barrel.

There will be contests for adults and kids of all ages at 4 p.m. Firefighters' and other games, various raffles and multiple kiddie rides will open at 5 p.m.

The country-western bands, Southern Crossroads and Southern Star will provide free entertainment at 5 p.m. but be sure to bring lawn chairs.

A free fireworks display will occur at the end of the evening. The fireworks display is sponsored by the Homecoming Committee and the Rochester Volunteer Fire Department.