With Independence Day just around the corner, numerous events, activities, and fireworks displays are planned across west central Missouri.
To have your event added to this list, email news@sedaliademocrat.com or news@warrensburgstarjournal.com.
The Fourth of July festivities in Sedalia will kick off with the Firecracker Mile at Liberty Park. Check-in begins at 7 a.m. Thursday, July 4 and races begin at 8 a.m. Registration costs $15 for kids 12 and younger and $25 for adults.
The annual Fourth of July parade will begin at 10 a.m. in downtown Sedalia, followed by Picnic in the Park from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Liberty Park. The first 500 people at the picnic will receive a free hot dog, chips and a drink. There will also be bounce houses and a live band.
Liberty Pool will host the Star-Spangled Swim from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., with half-price admission all day. Military members and veterans with ID will receive free admission.
The holiday concludes with a free fireworks display at 9:30 p.m. on the Missouri State Fairgrounds.
For more information, visit sedaliaparks.com.
Warrensburg Main Street will start the celebration early with the Children’s Patriotic Bike Parade from 9 to 11 a.m. Saturday, June 29 at the Johnson County Courthouse lawn.
The community is encouraged to put on their red, white and blue and decorate their wagons, trikes, bikes, ride-on toys, family dogs or even themselves to participate in the parade. Main Street will provide limited decorating supplies before the parade.
The parade will begin at 10:30 a.m. Before it begins, Troop 400 will conduct a flag-raising ceremony, and Dr. Stella Dayrit-Roden will sing the national anthem.
From 9 to 10:30 a.m., activities such as a bounce house, chalk drawing, hula hoops, face painting, a clown, and bubbles will be available. Kona Ice will be selling shaved ice. An antique fire truck, provided by the Warrensburg Fire Department, will be parked at the courthouse square during the event.
The Warrensburg Farmers’ Market will be open from 8 a.m. to noon.
For more information, contact Warrensburg Main Street at 660-429-3988 or visit warrensburgmainstreet.org.
Warrensburg Parks and Recreation will host the Freedom Fest 5K Run/Walk from 8 to 9:30 a.m. June 29 at the Warrensburg Train Depot. Walk-up registration is at 7 a.m. The fee is $40; kids 5 and younger are free. To register or for more information, call 660-747-7178 or visit Warrensburg-mo.com.
On Wednesday, July 3, the Warrensburg Community Band will host a concert at 3 p.m. at the Missouri Veterans Home and 7 p.m. at the Grover Park Baptist Church. For more information, contact David Robinson at 660-909-4062 or visit the Warrensburg Community Band on Facebook.
Central Missouri Speedway will host the 24th annual Tom Wilson Memorial on Saturday, July 6. The race will feature $3,000-to-win B-Mods and $1,000-to-win Pure Stocks, plus Super Stocks and Midwest Mods.
Pit passes are $40. Grandstand admission is $20 for adults, $15 for active military and seniors 65 to 74, $6 for kids ages 6 to 12, and free for children 5 and under and seniors 75 and older. Pit gates open at 4:30 p.m., followed by the grandstands at 5 p.m. Hot laps are at 7 p.m. with racing to follow. A fireworks display will take place after the races.
For more information, visit centralmissourispeedway.com.
The Friends of the Maclay Home will host the 42nd annual Ice Cream Social on Thursday, July 4 at the Home on the corner of Howard and Highway B in Tipton.
Hamburgers, hot dogs, ice cream and homemade cookies will be served at the Carriage House kitchen from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Attractions on the grounds will include Civil War reenactors with cannon firings at noon and 1:30 p.m., a Country Store, games for children and live musical and patriotic entertainment.
The home will be open for tours from 10 a.m. to noon. Admission is free for veterans on the Fourth of July.
The historic Old Presbyterian Church, built in 1898, will also be open to the public. A player piano will provide entertainment at the church.
For more information, call 660-433-2068.
Warsaw will host a fireworks display on Saturday, July 6 overlooking the Osage Arm of Lake of the Ozarks at Drake Harbor. For more information, call the City of Warsaw at 660-438-5522.
Osage Bluff Marina will host a celebration at 3 p.m. Friday, July 5. There will be food trucks, vendors and a fireworks display. It is free and open to the public. For more information, visit facebook.com/osagebluffmarina.
The Lincoln Chamber of Commerce will host its Fourth of July Celebration on Saturday, July 6 in Lincoln City Park.
The day begins with a baby contest and a three-vs-three basketball tournament at 10 a.m. An arm wrestling tournament will begin at noon, followed by a corn hole tournament from 2 to 4 p.m. A beer garden will be open from 5 p.m. to midnight, featuring music from Brandon Ward and The Evan Carter Band. There will also be food vendors and other vendors.
During the celebration, the Lincoln High School band will host a fundraiser to support its trip to Florida in November. The students will host games for 50 cents each, including a duck pond, ring toss and corn hole toss. There will also be a 50/50 raffle and a $5 meal deal that includes a hotdog, chips and soda. Games and food will be available from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
A fireworks display will take place July 4.
For more information, visit facebook.com/lincolnmochamber.
The Village of Arrow Rock will host an impromptu parade at 11 a.m. July 4 at the Old Schoolhouse at the west end of Main Street. All are welcome to join the parade – bring bikes, trikes, choppers, tractors, golf carts, horses, vintage autos or yourself, or join the kazoo band. Spectators are also welcome.
Festivities will include the annual cookout and potluck at the shelter house in the state park. Attendees are welcome to bring their favorite summertime food, as well as a blanket or lawn chair.
For more information, contact Experience Arrow Rock at 660-837-3700.
The annual Kurtfest will be hosted Saturday, July 6 at 31649 S. Hinken Road in Green Ridge. Gates open at 5 p.m.
Cedar Creek will begin performing at 6:30 p.m. The event will include food and drink vendors, plus Kurtfest T-shirts and other merchandise for sale. Guests are encouraged to bring their own chairs. The evening will end with a fireworks display.
The cost is $5 for adults and $2 for school-age kids. VIP parking is $20 per car.
For more information, visit facebook.com/KurtfestLLC.
The 509th Force Support Squadron will host a free Independence Day Celebration at 5 p.m. Wednesday, July 3 at Ike Skelton Lake. It is open to everyone with base access.
The event will include food trucks, bounce houses, a cornhole tournament, a watermelon eating contest, a fireworks display and more. For more information, call CPPO at 660-687-5754.
Dale Hollow Winery will host its annual Independence Celebration from 5 to 9 p.m. Friday, July 5.
Music by Jackson Fischer will start around 5:30 p.m., and fireworks will begin at dark. Food will be available for the duration or until it runs out. Bringing lawn chairs is encouraged.
For more information, visit facebook.com/dalehollowwinery.
