There are several events celebrating the Fourth of July in the northeast Benton County area beginning this weekend with Freedom Fest on Weston Street in Pea Ridge.
The 11th annual Freedom Fest is set to begin at 6 p.m. Sunday, June 25. The Joyous Bells will play at 5:40 p.m. before the event.
Pea Ridge city ordinances allow the purchase, sale and discharge of fireworks within the city limits.
Fireworks may be discharged on private property as follows:
• Noon to midnight daily from July 1-7.
• It shall be unlawful to discharge fireworks on any city street or city property.
• It shall be unlawful to use any fireworks if the city is under a burn ban.
• All persons using fireworks within the city shall promptly collect and remove any and all litter and debris resulting from such use.
Any discharging of fireworks outside of the allowances provided in the city ordinance will result in citations/fines.
The annual event is held on the grounds at First Assembly of God Church on Weston Street. It has grown from just over 100 people attending 10 years ago to more than 2,000 people in 2016.
Freedom Fest began as a gift to the community from Edwin Brewer, pastor of First Assembly of God, and other church members, and is a cooperative effort with several area churches.
"It's because of these other churches. There's no way our church could do it alone," Brewer said.
"It's basically the same although we will have a couple of extra booths this year," Brewer said. One change will be that the tickets will be distributed under the awning at the front of the church and the food tent will be south of the church building, between the church and the baseball fields.
Beginning at 6 p.m. a free dinner of hot dogs, chicken sandwiches, chips and a drink will be served.
Music will be provided by several different bands.
"We encourage people to bring lawn chairs or blankets," Brewer said.
"We just would like to invite the public to come. We want them to enjoy themselves in a good, safe, Christian family environment," Brewer said.
There will be handicap parking available on site.
Many different churches and organizations will have booths providing snow cones, cotton candy, watermelon.
Prizes will be given throughout the event.
Police will set up booth to receive donations for a raffle to raise money for a drug dog.
Fireworks, donated by Brewer's company, begin at dark. They are set off by members of the Pea Ridge Fire Department from the baseball fields on Weston Street.
"It's about a $5,000 show," Brewer said of the fireworks display, adding that he is extremely with his business because of the Fourth of July and usually leaves to work around the state as soon as Freedom Fest is over.
The 16th annual Ventris Trail's End Resort fireworks display, visible from boat on Beaver Lake is set for Saturday, July 1. This display is free to the public. Fireworks will start around dark. The display location will be just South of marker No. 8 on Beaver Lake.
The second annual Fourth of July Parade in Seligman, Mo., will begin at 5 p.m. July 4. It is sponsored by Zeta Phi. Lineup is to start at 4:30 p.m. near Dollar General. Prizes, sponsored by the Seligman Parks Dept., are for most patriotic entries. First place receives $100, second prize gets $50 and third prize gets $25. Hotdogs will be served after the parade by the Chamber of Commerce. Fireworks begin at dark.
Community on 06/21/2017