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.
