DARKE COUNTY — Three Darke County area communities — Greenville, Ansonia and Union City — will be celebrating the Fourth of July weekend with fireworks on July 3 while the other community — New Madison — display will be on the Fourth.
Greenville’s fireworks display will begin at dusk on July 3, with a rain date of July 5, while fireworks are slated for dusk at Harter Park in Union City, Indiana, with the Union City, Indiana, police and fire departments organizing that event.
Fireworks in Ansonia will begin at dusk behind Moody’s Auto Service on North Main Street (Route 118). The Ansonia Community Celebration schedule of events will run July 3-5 at the Ansonia Ball Park.
Weekend activities include softball tournament all three days at $150 per team (for more information, contact Jason at 937-564-0295; and horseshoe tournaments, July 3 and 4 at 6 p.m. July 3 will be Little Mr. and Miss Red White and Blue Pageant at 7 p.m. on the stage at the ballpark ages are 3 to 6 must be in Ansonia School District ($5 entry fee, for more information, contact Kami at 937-621-9722).
Activities on July 4 in Ansonia will be 5K Race which will start at 9 a.m. will start and finish at the school. Parade will start at 12:30 p.m. with line-up at 11 a.m. at the First Church of God. All entries will be accepted the day of the parade. Grand marshal will be Charlie Prasuhn. Chicken barbecue will begin at 1 p.m. from Rocky Bernard at the Ansonia American Legion, with only 850 halves available. Games will be sponsored by Ansonia Youth Football. Entertainment will be DJ Just Dave. Cornhole Tournament will be at 2 p.m. at $20 for a team. For more information, contact Jen at 417-0144, and also the National Kiddie Tractor Pull will start at 2 p.m., with sign-up at 1:30 p.m. for ages 3-4, 5-6, 7-8.
New Madison is also gearing up for its Fourth of July celebration. Events actually begin on Friday with vendors in the school parking lot, food and beverage tent at the Civic Center, cornhole tournament at 5 p.m. at the Civic Center with music and the Little Miss/Mr. Firecracker pageant will begin at 7 p.m. in the Tri-Village School parking lot. From 9 p.m. to midnight, the band Major Tom will perform at the Civic Center, and, at dark, Harrison Street Baptist Church will be showing a family movie with hot dogs, popcorn and drinks provided.
Featured on the Fourth, in addition to fireworks, is the parade, stepping off at 3 p.m. with the lineup starting at 2 p.m. as usual on Anderson Street between State Route 121 (Snack Shop) and Wilt Road. Participants are reminded to enter from Wilt Road at the end of Anderson. The usual route down 121 to the Tri-Village High School will apply. This year’s grand marshal is Steve Eadler for his many years of service to the community.
Additional activities slated for Saturday in New Madison include the Wiffle ball tournament starting at 9 a.m. behind the high school; a pet show at 9 a.m. on the front lawn of the school; co-ed volleyball tournament at the Civic Center from noon to 6 p.m.; kiddie tractor pull at 4 p.m. in the school parking lot; and cornhole tournament starting at 6 p.m. at the Civic Center. Valley Exotics will be bringing “the Zoo to You” from 10 a.m. until dark Saturday behind the school.
There will be plenty of opportunity for festival-goers to get something to eat throughout the weekend. There will be a food and beverage tent at the Civic Center from 5 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. Friday and from noon to 12:30 a.m. Saturday; while the following are scheduled for Saturday: Masonic Lodge pancake breakfast from 7 to 11 a.m.; Kiwanis Sausage Barn and Hawaiian Ice Cream from noon to 8 p.m. in the school parking lot; the Fourth of July Concession stand behind the school starting at 5 p.m.; and the American Legion’s chicken box dinner at 5 p.m.
