A big, big bang of a day; plenty planned for fourth

It's hard to believe the Fourth of July holiday is just around the corner... it seems like summer just got underway.

But indeed Saturday is the fourth and several entities throughout the village are offering a wide variety of family activities.

On Friday, July 3 at Howk Park in front of Town Hall, at 7 p.m. the Patriots Community Band will perform. There will also be a free ice cream social, sponsored by Village Market and Dairyman's Ice Cream.

Fireworks will be set off at dusk at the Lorain County Fairgrounds on Friday as well; donations toward the fireworks show will be accepted at the entrances. If it rains, fireworks will be set off on July 11.

On Saturday, children's activities begin at 11 a.m. in Howk Park in front of Town Hall with a pet parade.

There will be a volleyball tournament from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the south lawn. Horse-drawn wagon rides will be provided from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. by Wells-Go-Far, south of the gazebo.

At noon, there will be a pedal tractor pull for kids ages three to 10 between Town Hall and the United Methodist Church.

Special music will be featured from 1-3 p.m. in the village square. Games in the park begin at 1:30 p.m.

The annual Fourth of July parade begins at 3 p.m.; line-up begins at 2:45 p.m. at McCormick Middle School. Parade marshals this year are the Herrick Memorial Library staff, and mistress of ceremonies is Wellington Township trustee Virginia Haynes. The parade is sponsored by Harrison Ford.

The National Anthem will be performed by Claire Hatton, Courtney Garza and Angela Gaetano.

Games for preschool kids in the park will begin at 4 p.m. Special music will be provided from 4-6 p.m. in the village square and there will be a frog-jumping contest at 4:30 p.m.

Lifeshare Blood Bank will be in the park from 1-6 p.m. for donations.

The new Eagles facility at 631 S. Main St., is open to the public on Saturday, July 4 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. A car and motorcycle show will be held from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and food and refreshments will be sold from noon to 6 p.m.

The 90th annual Fourth of July homecoming will be held on Saturday, July 4 at the Eagle Street Park and Fire Station in Rochester.

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

Parade registration will be from 9 a.m. to 10:15 a.m. Entry in the parade is free and all are welcome.

The parade is free and will begin at 10:30 a.m. It will include bands, floats, kids, cars, fire trucks, 4-H groups, horse back riders and anything or anyone else.

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 with prizes awarded for first, second and third places. The winners will be announced at the park during the early evening.

The Rochester Historical Society will have an open house from noon to 5 p.m. The 21st Ohio Volunteer Light Artillery (OVLA) will be in the parade but after the parade they demonstrate their 3-inch ordinance rifle (cannon) with its original Civil War barrel.

There will be contests for adults and children of all ages at 4 p.m.

The country-western band Southern Crossroads and the Irish Blues Band will provide free entertainment at 4:30 p.m. Bring your own lawn chairs.

Firemen's and other games, various raffles and multiple kiddie rides will open at 5 p.m.

A free fireworks display will occur at the end of the evening sponsored by the homecoming committee and the Rochester Volunteer Fire Department.