There is much entertainment available this Friday in Seminole and Shawnee. If the drive isn't that far, spending a fortune on gas may be worth it.
Seminole will hold its third annual Fourth of July Festival at Magnolia Park right off of Strothers Ave. Residents are encouraged to bring lawn chairs or blankets. Activities and contests start at 2 p.m.. Most games and food require tickets. Ticket booths will be near event entrances. T-shirts will be sold for $10. Music will start at 2:30 p.m.
There are two new events this year — "You Take the Cake" contest and a 5K run/walk.
The highlight of the day will be parachutists. Other activities will include baseball throw and softball pitch using radar guns, basketball, horseshoes, egg toss, sack races and much more.
For the children, activities include inflatables, face painting, clowns and a magician.
Food concessions will have hot dogs, polish dogs, Bratwurst, water and sodas. Tickets must be used for these items. Each ticket is $1.
In Shawnee, there are 2 main events, luckily, not happening at the same time. At 2 p.m. registration begins at Shawnee Twin Lakes' Lake No. 1 loading ramp for Shawnee's first ever Fourth of July Boat Parade.
Shawnee Twin Lakes Membership Chairman Julie Akerman said she hopes to see up to 25 boats in the parade. So far about 15 have registered.
At 3 p.m. the event begins with an introduction from Jim Townsend. Boats begin the parade, which is predicted to last up to 2 hours.
Boats will be able to enter in a poker run for a fee of $5. Best of Show will receive a gift certificate for a year-end maintenance from S&D Boat. Most Patriotic and Best Personal Watercraft will receive two ski vests from David's Sports Center.
On stage at the loading ramp parking lot will be Darrel Gable and Jo Davis's granddaughter singing the Star Spangled Banner and Happy Birthday.
Viewing for the parade will be recommended at Glen Collins Memorial Park and Isaac Walton Park. And guests are encouraged to bring their own chairs and lunch.
Later that evening Shawnee's engineering department will hold Shawnee's long-running Red, White and Blue Celebration at Heart of Oklahoma Exposition Center. Gates will open at 6 p.m.
The stage and concession will be south of the grandstands. The fireworks display will be viewed to the northeast.
Lisa Lasyone from engineering said "5,000 plus" will most likely show up.
Parking has never been a major problem Lasyone said. Shawnee police and fire department will assist with traffic.
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