Wooster Daily Record| USA TODAY NETWORK
The Orrville Firefighters Association's annual Fire in the Sky begins Tuesday, July 4, at 4 p.m. with the parade. The festival will run through Saturday, July 8, when the fireworks are held.
The 39th annual Independence Day Parade will be held at 4 p.m. July 4 with lineup beginning at 2 p.m. Co-grand marshalls are Orrville Rotary (celebrating 100 years) and the Schantz Organ Co. (celebrating 150 years.) The parade will be rain or shine; there is no rain date.
The parade begins at the corner of Ella and High streets and moves east on High Street to Main Street, south on Main Street to Market Street, west on Market Street to Maple Street, north on Maple Street to High Street, east on High Street to Elm Street and north on Elm Street, ending at the upper area of Orr Park.
Only pre-registered entries will be permitted in the parade. Parade forms are available on the Orrville Firefighters Association Facebook page and are due by Friday.
Even though noise in many forms is a typical part of any parade, the OFFA recognizes some parade attendants like loud noises while others do not. The OFFA has designated a quiet zone that runs from the intersection of West High and North Vine streets and continues to the intersection of West Market and Depot streets.
Bike Giveaway: 9 p.m. Friday, July 7
Children ages 12 and under may pick up free raffle tickets each evening for the chance to win a new mountain bike. Five boys and five girls mountain bikes, purchased by the OFFA, will be raffled at about 9 p.m. Friday, July 7, in the Midway area. With each mountain bike, helmets and storage bags are given, donated by Aultman Orrville Hospital, Quota International of Orrville and Cops ‘n Kids program.
Members of the Orrville Police Department will be on hand to register each bicycle in the OPD bicycle registration program. The child, along with a parent or guardian, must be present a the drawing to win.
Twirling Expo: 6:30 p.m. July 7
The Twirling Exhibition is back this year and will be held at the Orrville basketball courts. The event is hosted by the OHS Majorettes.
Back-to-Back aoftball tournaments
The 5-Alarm Classic 12U softball tournament will run June 30-July 2. It will be followed by the 19th annual Fire in the Sky ASA Girls 14U softball tournament, running July 6-8. The 5-Alarm has over 40 teams registered and the Fire in the Sky has more than 100 teams registered. Games for both tournaments will be played at Orr Park and Orrville Christian Church. The Fire in the Sky will have games played at Kidron and Rittman parks as well.
Ventrac of Orrville is the official grounds equipment provider for both tournaments. To view game schedules, games scores and more visit www.orrvillefireinthesky.com.
Carnival Midway
The Midway will be open the following hours:
- Tuesday, July 4: noon-11 p.m.
- Wedsenday, July 5: 5-11 p.m.
- Thursday, July 6: 5-11 p.m.
- Friday, July 7: 5-11 p.m.
- Saturday, July 8: noon-11 p.m.*
On Tuesday and Saturday the rides will be closed from 5-6 p.m. allowing the ride company a dinner break. (Games and food vendors will remain open.)
Volley in the Ville, 8 a.m. Tuesday July 4
Picking up for their fourth year, the Orrville Firefighters Association will feature a Grass Volleyball Tournament. It will be July 4 for teams of four - two guys and two girls. The cost is $120 per team or $30 per person. Upper and lower divisions will be available. Cash payouts will be paid to the winners of each division, as well a food vouchers for select food trucks set up at the carnival.
This is an adult-only tournament (18 years or older.) Payment is due when signing up. Registration deadline is July 1. Reach out to Johnny Stoler at 330-317-7606 to sign up.
Live Music, 8 p.m. Saturday, July 8
There will be live music from Cleveland’s Rock Bar at 8 p.m. July 8. The music is rock-n-roll covers.
Fireworks, 10:15 p.m. Saturday, July 8
On the last night of the carnival, Saturday, July 8, at about 10:15 p.m. or upon completion of the softball tournament championship game, the sky will light up with the OFFA fireworks show, formulated by American Fireworks, an Ohio-based company. This is the 39th year the firefighters have presented the event.
In the event of bad weather, fireworks will be postponed to the next clear night at 10:15 p.m. The decision to postpone the fireworks will be made as early as possible on July 8 based on the weather forecast for the 10 p.m. time frame. Check radio station WQKT 104.5 Wooster and the Orrville Firefighters Facebook page for a cancellation notice.
The Bike Trail, Dog Park, Skate Park and Storybook Trail will be closed Saturday, July 8 due to the fireworks safety perimeter.
Additional Information
The parade, carnival midway activities and fireworks night attract thousands of locals and visitors to Orrville and Orr Park. Be sure to find the proper place to dispose of trash. The Orrville Firefighters Association places waste containers along the parade route and in Orr Park.
Donations to help with the annual Firefighters Association event may be made to Orrville Firefighters Association, PO Box 144, Orrville 44667.
