DGKN staff report
All are welcome to celebrate Fourth of July activities beginning Wednesday, June 29 and continuing through the weekend as the Fire in the Sky Celebration returns to Orrville, and Fredericks-burg welcomes everyone to take part in their parade July 4.
The Orrville Firefight-ers Association has its 38th annual Fire in the Sky celebration with festivities running June 29-July 3 in the city as well as at ball parks in Dalton and Kidron.
Here’s what you need to know:
Orrville parade
Rain or shine, the Independence Day Parade at 7 p.m. Wednesday, June 29, kicks off the five-day celebration of the Fourth of July activities hosted by the Orrville Firefighters Association.
Entrants who pre-registered for the parade line up at 5 p.m. The parade route remains the same as years past – beginning at the corner of Ella and High streets.
The parade will continue 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.
Children are encouraged to be extra careful when picking up candy during the parade, according to information provided by the OFFA. Even though noise in many forms is a typical part of any parade, the OFFA recognizes that some parade attendants like loud noises while others do not.
The OFFA has again designated a “quiet zone” which runs from the intersection of West High and North Vine streets and continues to West Market and Depot streets.
Visit the Wienermobile
On Thursday, June 30 stop by the Midway for a photo and check out the Oscar Meyer Wienermobile.
Bike giveaway
Children ages 12 and younger can pick up free raffle tickets each evening of the carnival for the chance to win a new mountain bike. Five boys’ and five girls’ mountain bikes, purchased by the OFFA, will be raffled off at approximately 9 p.m. Saturday, July 2 in the Midway area. With each mountain bike, helmets and storage bags are also given, generously 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 at the drawing to win.
Fire in the Sky Softball
The 18th annual “Fire in the Sky” ASA Girls 14U softball tournament, will run July 1-3 and 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 also have games played at Dalton and Kidron parks. To view schedules and game scores visit orrvillefireinthesky.com. Prior to the fireworks display, the championship game will be on Sunday, July 3 at 8 p.m.
3-on-3 Basketball
The annual Steve “Smitty” Smith 3-on-3 basketball tournament is set for July 2, with games beginning at 9 a.m. In the event of bad weather, games will be moved to the multi-purpose facility behind Orrville High School.
This tournament is open to boys, girls, men and women. Divisions will range from third grade through 40-plus. Each division will have pool play with single or double elimination advancement. No more than five players per team are permitted. Court officials and scorekeepers will be assigned to facilitate games.
First and second place awards will be given in each division. Men’s Open first place team will receive $1,000.
Registration for third and fourth grade teams are $50 per team; all other divisions are $100 per team. Registration deadline is July 2. To register or for more information, contact Calvin Tuggle, 330-347-4885 or calvintuggle@yahoo.com.
Grass Volleyball Tournament
Picking up for their third year, the Orrville Firefighters Association will feature a Grass Volleyball Tournament. It will be on July 2 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, and you can sign up until June 30. Reach out to Johnny Stoler at 330-317-7606 to sign up. Proceeds will benefit OHuddle.
Live music
Live southern and classic rock music, featuring Rooster Jones, is at 8 p.m. July 3. Immediately following their performance, at approximately 10:15 p.m., the highly anticipated fireworks display, put on by the Orrville Firefighters Association, will light up the sky in Orrville.
Fireworks
On the last night of the carnival, Sunday, July 3 at approximately 10:15 p.m. or upon completion of the softball tournament championship game, the sky of Orrville will light up with the OFFA fireworks show, formulated by American Fireworks, an Ohio-based company. This is the 38th year the firefighters have presented this 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 3 based on the weather forecast for the 10 p.m. time frame, according to information provided. Please check local radio station WQKT 104.5 Wooster and the Orrville Firefighters Facebook page for a cancellation notice.
How to support
The parade, carnival midway activities and fireworks night attract thousands of locals and visitors to Orrville and Orr Park. It is asked whatever anyone brings in or eats while they visit, they are asked to find the proper place to dispose of trash before leaving. The Orrville Firefighters Association places many waste containers along the parade route and in Orr Park to help dispose of trash properly. The organization realizes these do fill up; in this case, people are asked to place trash near a container for disposal. With community and business support, the Orrville Firefighters Association can continue to provide the Orrville Independence Day Parade, carnival, softball tournament and fireworks. Donations may be made to the Orrville Firefighters Association, PO BOX 144, Orrville, OH 44667.
Fredericksburg Fourth
The Fredericksburg Fourth of July parade will be at 11 a.m. Monday, July 4, according to Fredericksburg’s Facebook page. Lineup begins at 9 a.m. at North Hill. Everyone is welcome: sports teams, businesses, bands, choirs, church groups, classic and sports cars, tractors/wagons/horse groups, biker groups and more, the Facebook page states.
Honest Abe in Dalton
Dalton Presbyterian Church, 163 W Main St., has service at 10:30 a.m. July 3, and welcomes Gerald Payn back to the pulpit. He will portray President Abra-ham Lincoln to celebrate Amer-ica’s history. Fellowship will follow, according to Pastor Sally Fusek.
