Festivities furnish fun for 4th

Whether it’s patriotism longing to find an avenue for expression or enthusiasm looking to fill the holiday weekend with activity that will coax Americans outside their homes this Independence Day, Pottawatomie County will help satisfy the craving with several planned festivities.
Among these are the Blackberry Festival in McLoud; the Boat Parade at Shawnee’s Twin Lakes; Tecumseh’s Hometown Independence Celebration; and Shawnee’s Red, White and Blue Celebration.

McLoud — Blackberry Festival
Beginning at 5 p.m. Friday in Veteran’s Park, located at 6th and Park in McLoud, the annual Blackberry Festival will begin.
“The crops this year have been really slow so we don’t have as many blackberries this year,” Jayne Sconyers, McLoud Chamber of Commerce director, said. “I’ve been telling everyone that if they’re coming for the blackberries, they better come Friday. We’ll still have some Saturday, but I’m not promising any berries for Sunday.”
Sconyers said the reduction in available blackberries won’t hamper the celebration, as many additional activities are planned for the event. These include three days of carnival rides — with arm band night on Friday and live local musical entertainment from 8 p.m. to midnight Friday and Saturday and 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday.
The McLoud Chamber of Commerce will have fresh blackberries, cobblers, jellies and commemorative t-shirts available for purchase each day of the festival and other vendors will also be on hand.
“It’s the longest running 4th of July event in the state,” Sconyers said. 
The festival opens at 8 a.m. and closes at midnight Saturday and then reopens for the final day at 5 p.m. and ends with a fireworks display at 10 p.m.
A parade begins at 10 a.m. Saturday and runs along Main Street, and a car show and tractor show will both be held in the park until 3 p.m. Children’s games, such as sack races, turtle races, goat dressing and a money-in-the-haystack dig will be available noon to 3 p.m. Saturday.
A talent show, Blackberry Idol, will follow at 3 p.m. and will last until 5 p.m.
And the No-hands Cobbler Eating contest will be held at 6 p.m. No entry fee is required for the cobbler eating contest, and the winner will receive a t-shirt that reads, “I am the biggest cobbler gobbler.”
Co-ed, all-ages “family ball” softball games will be played during the weekend with team registration available by calling 405-964-6566.
Sunday in McLoud, the festival will begin again with poker run registration at 11 a.m. and with the park’s opening for guests at 5 p.m. The first cobbler baking contest for the festival will be held at the chamber of commerce booth at 5 p.m., with winners announced at 7 p.m.
The Blackberry Pageant will be held at 7 p.m., and a junior princess, princess and queen will be named.
In addition, a hot rod engine created by John Barrett will be on display throughout the weekend, and tickets will be available to enter the giveaway for the engine. The winner will be announced in October at the annual Chili Cook-Off.
A community fireworks display, made possible through money raised by pageant contestants, will close the Blackberry Festival at 10 p.m. Sunday.

Twin Lakes — Boat Parade
Moving closer to Shawnee, an opportunity to watch a parade of boat floats will begin with registration from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Saturday at the Lake No. 1 loading ramp. Pre-registration is available by visiting shawneetwinlakes.com.
The Pledge of Allegiance will be recited at 10:45 a.m. and the parade is set to begin at 11 a.m.
Also available during the boat parade is a chance for registered parade participants to win door prizes.
Awards given after the parade include Best of Show, Most Patriotic and Best Personal Watercraft, all with prizes from Premier Power Sports in Oklahoma City.

Tecumseh — Hometown Independence Celebration
Just south of Shawnee, Tecumseh will provide another avenue for expressing patriotism with its Hometown Independence Celebration, which will begin at 6:30 p.m. and end with a fireworks display that is set to begin at 9 p.m. at Slick Humphrey Park.
Fireworks for the display were made possible through sales at the Tecumseh Chamber of Commerce’s fireworks stand located at Rangeline and SH 9.
Free inflatables for children will be available this year due to a local citizen’s private donation.
Vendors will provide hamburgers, hot dogs and chicken wings for purchase “at a family-friendly price” during the celebration.
Lawn chairs are encouraged.

Shawnee — Red, White and Blue Celebration
In Shawnee, the 17th annual Red, White and Blue Celebration will be held, with gates opening at 6 p.m., at the Heart of Oklahoma Exposition Center.
Local musical talents Randy Houser and Uncalled Four will provide entertainment prior to the fireworks display, and inflatables will be available for children attending.
Concessions will be open at the Expo Center and 3-D glasses will be sold for $1 per pair.
The fireworks display, which is estimated to last about 20 minutes, will begin at 10 p.m.
Guests are encouraged to bring their own lawn chairs but outside food and drink are not permitted.

As with all summer activities, sunscreen is advised for those who plan to spend their 4th of July weekend outdoors. It is also advised that those spending time participating in any of these or other outdoor holiday events drink plenty of fluids; wear light, loose-fitting clothing; and exercise caution when setting off fireworks.
Fireworks are not permitted within Shawnee, McLoud or Tecumseh city limits.