Firemen's Fourth slated to kick off today
HUNTSVILLE — The Town of Huntsville and Huntsville Fire Department plan to kick off the extended 4th of July holiday weekend with a bang today (Thursday), with the start of the annual Firemen’s Fourth Festival on the lawn of the courthouse mall downtown.
According to Dean King, the town’s fire chief, the festival will begin with carnival rides, live entertainment, including bluegrass, gospel and country music, and food and other vendors today, beginning this afternoon.
By tomorrow (Friday), the festival will be in full swing, with the annual pancake breakfast sponsored by the fire department and Oneida Kiwanis Club being held until 10:30 a.m., followed by the annual Fourth of July parade at 11 a.m. The parade will follow its usual route — departing from Huntsville school just east of the mall, traveling west on Baker Highway before circling the mall on Court Street and traveling back east along Baker Highway, disbanding at the school.
Live entertainment will resume as the parade ends, and continue throughout the day tomorrow. The fire department will also sponsor kids’ games, and horseshoe pitching contests and monster truck displays — with autograph sessions with the drivers — among other attractions.
In addition to the horseshoe pitching contest, a variety of other contests will be held, including a hot dog eating contest, ice cream eating contest and watermelon seed spitting contest.
The entertainment schedule for today includes: Noon - 2 p.m., Royal Blue Singers; 2 p.m. - 3 p.m., Vince Pennington and Beverly Steele; 3 p.m. - 4 p.m., Chloe Litton; 4 p.m. - 5 p.m., Halea Marlow; 5 p.m. - 6 p.m., Hancock Family; 6 p.m. - 6:30 p.m., Allardt Cloggers; 6:30 p.m. - 7 p.m., Lois Blue; 7 p.m. - 8 p.m., Nick Manis and the Revolution Band; 8 p.m. - 9 p.m., Luke Duke and Wild Bill; 9 p.m. - 10 p.m., The North Cove; and Lois Blue will finish the night beginning at 10 p.m.
On Friday, the Royal Blue Singers will begin the entertainment at noon until 2 p.m., followed by: 2 p.m. - 3 p.m., Landmark Youth Choir; 3 p.m. - 4 p.m., Jazzmin Wood; 4 p.m. - 5 p.m., One Way Flight; 5 p.m. - 6 p.m., Stanley Tylers; 6 p.m. - 7 p.m., Chloe Litton; 7 p.m. - 8 p.m., Nick Manis and the Revolution Band; 8 p.m. - 9 p.m., Luke Duke and Wild Bill; 9 p.m. - 10 p.m., Odell Brummett; 10 p.m. - 10:30 p.m., Lois Blue. Odell Brummett and band will finish the evening.
As usual, the festival will be highlighted by a grand fireworks display at 10 p.m. Friday evening.