MARSHALL – The skies will be lit up in Marshall this weekend, as the community celebrates Independence Day.
While there will be some changes to Marshall’s traditional schedule of events this year, the fireworks display at Independence Park on July 4th will continue.
“We are delighted to be able to do it for families”, said Amanda Beckler, community education coordinator at Marshall Community Services. The fireworks will begin on Sunday at 10:15 p.m. Before that, there will be food vendors and live music at Independence Park.
A long-standing July 4th event, the Kite Festival, will not take place this year.
“We are reducing it this year”, Beckler said. When planning for the fourth began, it was uncertain whether COVID-19 restrictions would still be in place by July. Although the restrictions were lifted, Beckler said organizers were sticking to a lighter Independence Day schedule than in previous years.
One thing was for sure though.
“We were always going to have the fireworks display, whatever,” Beckler said. “It’s an event. That’s what we do at Marshall.
Organizers always encourage families to go out and enjoy a night out at Independence Park, Beckler said. Food vendors including the Hitching Post and Cold Stone Creamery will open at 5:00 p.m. in the park, and singer / songwriter Kayla Daniels will perform from 8:30 p.m.
Independence Park won’t be the only place to see fireworks this weekend. Balaton will have its exhibit tonight at 10 p.m. as part of the community’s annual Fun Fest. Currie’s July 4th celebration will feature fireworks at dusk Sunday.
Celebrate the community
There is plenty to see and do in the area this weekend, with festivals like Balaton’s Fun Fest and Hendricks’ Summerfest kicking off today. And while the 4th of July celebrations are still very important in Ruthton, this year there will also be the additional festivities of the reunion of all Viking schools in Ruthton.
“People are excited. They come from everywhere. said Tami Nelson, one of the organizers of the meeting. Organizers received responses from over 300 Ruthton alumni.
Part of the reason the All Schools reunion was scheduled for this summer was a farewell to the Ruthton School building, Nelson said. What is now Russell-Tyler-Ruthton Elementary saw its very last class of students this spring. The RTR District is completing a new K-12 school building in Tyler, and the old Ruthton school building will be demolished.
This weekend will give Ruthton alumni the opportunity to remember one last time in the school building. Tours of Tyler’s new school will be offered on Saturday morning and people will be able to tour Ruthton School from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.
“We will have the Ruthton School open for anyone who wants to enter. “ Nelson said. Later in the evening, community members will have the chance to hear musical entertainment from piano duo Dueling Duos.
Community events are also part of the Fun Fest and Summerfest this weekend. This afternoon, members of the Class of 1969 from Balaton High School will pay their respects to former longtime coach and teacher Ron Borchert by dedicating a memorial at Eastbay Park. Borchert has been a resident of Balaton for over 60 years and has spent his entire teaching career at Balaton. Borchert died in 2019 at the age of 86.
There will be a full program of events at Balaton this weekend, including a parade and family events on Saturday afternoon, and street dancing on Saturday evening.
In Hendricks, the annual Community Spirit Award will be presented on Saturday, following the Summerfest parade at 11 a.m. Many fun events are also planned, including the “The night of a thousand elvis” musical program tonight, firefighters water games on Saturday and boat parade on Hendricks Lake on Sunday.
Event calendar
Balaton
Today
1:30 p.m. Balaton High School Class of ’69 dedication of the Ron Borchert Memorial, Eastbay Park
2:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. The Borchert challenge, at the putting green of the Balaton Bay golf course. The rainy date is Saturday from 7:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.
5:30 p.m .: Balaton Foundation hamburger meal at Legion-Lion Park
7 to 9:30 p.m. Red Hat Gypsy and Redwood River Boys at Legion-Lion Park
10 p.m. Fireworks at Eastbay
Saturday
7:30 a.m. Registration for the fun run at Legion-Lion Park
8 am-10am Breakfast in your room at Legion-Lion Park
8:30 a.m. Registration for 3v3 basketball on Main Street
10 a.m. Children’s Parade at Lakeview Senior Housing
2 p.m. Grand Parade
3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Children’s events (Touch the Truck, sidewalk chalk, bubbles, petting zoo) at Legion-Lion Park
3:30 p.m. Little Scrappers Pedal Pull on Main Street, Junior Beanbag Tournament at Legion-Lion Park
4:30 p.m. Cow Bingo at Legion-Lion Park
9 p.m. Firefighters’ street dance with “Drop the tailgate” on the main street
Sunday
10 a.m. Ecumenical Mass at the Christian Church of Victory
11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Picnic lunch at Trinity Church at the community center
Noon Adult Beanbag Tournament, Legion-Lion Park
Curry
Saturday
9:00 p.m. – 12:30 p.m. Street dancing with IV Play
Sunday
Volleyball tournament in City Park
City Park Beanbag Tournament
11 a.m.-1 p.m. July 4th Picnic and Currie Town & Country Membership Campaign
1:30 p.m. Duck races at the Des Moines Bridge
Dusk Fireworks sponsored by Currie Town & Country and the Currie Fire Department
Hendricks
Today
5:00 p.m. Red Barn Theater Scavenger Hunt
5.15 p.m. Bike parade at Faith Lutheran Church
5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Meal for the Relay For Life tacos
7 p.m. Night of a Thousand Elvis at Band Shell
Night fallen “The Sandlot” film screening on the ball field
Saturday
8:00 am Fun run at the concession stand at the ball field
8 a.m. to 10:30 a.m .: Pancake meal from the Lake Hendricks Improvement Association at the picnic shelter
11 am Parade followed by the Community Spirit Award ceremony at Ardor Park. Free lunch bag provided by the Foundation.
2:30 p.m. Water fun from the Hendricks Fire Department
3 p.m. – 4 p.m. Bingo Kiwanis at the picnic shelter
Sunday
9 a.m. Community religious service in the park. In the event of rain, services will be held at Christ Lutheran Church.
1:00 p.m. Anecdote to the shell group
2 p.m. Parade of boats
Marshal
(All events at Independence Park)
5 p.m. Opening of traders
8:30 p.m. Musical performance by Kayla Daniels
10:15 p.m. Fireworks
Ruthton
Saturday
2:00 p.m. All school groups, self-guided visits to the RTR primary school
7 p.m. Deulin ‘Duo Pianos
Sunday
9 a.m. Community religious service in the park
10 am-2pm Auto Show
11 am: Independence Day parade. Lunch in the park after the parade, plus activities such as a sandbox, bingo, mini-farm, chalk on the sidewalk
12:30 p.m. Kiddie tractor pull recording
3 p.m. Beanbag tournament for adults by Stubbs Pub
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