New events added to this year’s festivities celebrating 250th
Anticipation is building for Phillips’s 7th annual July 3rd Celebration this Friday. Memorial Hall will be the rallying point for a variety of family activities starting at 6 p.m. which will lead up to the annual fireworks display after dark.
Event coordinator Penny Evans said preparations have been going well, with volunteers investing their time to make sure everyone is safe while having fun.
“The (Phillips) Ball Program has been working hard with the fire department to upgrade the controls to ensure the safety of our firemen igniting the fireworks,” Evans said. “It really takes the whole town to accomplish this event and a special thank you to Jay Otto for his hard work every year getting sponsors for the fireworks.”
Food, including hamburgers, Big Red hotdogs, Albion Meat Block all-beef hotdogs, will be served from 6-8:30 p.m. inside Memorial Hall, and root beer floats will also be served at a booth outside during the celebration.
Events begin at 6 p.m. with games available from 6-9:30 p.m. Games for children under 5-years-old will be inside Memorial Hall along with a cakewalk, face painting and crafting areas.
Outside the hall, Bergmark Brothers Racing will again be sponsoring the Bring and Brag Car Show and the kids pedal tractor pull.
In addition, there will be hayrack rides, a dunk tank booth, turtle races, bouncy houses and music and dancing. There will also be a Home Run Derby baseball game at the ball field.
New this year will be a firefighters water fight on the west side of Memorial Hall.
The Bring and Brag Car Show will take place at the east end of the ball field parking lot.
Attendees can buy wristbands individually for $3 per child or family wristbands for $10. Evans said purchases over $5 this year can be paid for by a debit or credit card with a small courtesy fee.
“We are working hard to get enough donations to offset this fee,” Evans said.
The fireworks show will begin at 10 p.m. on North E Road east of the ball fields, with visitors encouraged to watch the fireworks show at the ballfield and parking area by the ballfield. The show is estimated to last 30-40 minutes this year. Visitors and residents are advised to avoid parking on E Road east of the ball park.
Money raised from the celebration will go towards next year’s 3rd of July celebration, the Phillips Ball Program, the Phillips Community Foundation and the Phillips Volunteer Fire Department.
Donations can be made inside the hall and at the concessions stand.
“And several volunteers will be on a golf cart clearly marked with a banner collecting donations for next year,” Evans said. “If an organization or business would like to donate, they can contact Jay Otto with the Phillips Ball Program.”
Evans said supporters can reach out to donate by visiting the Phillips Ball Program Facebook page.
For those interested in volunteering for the event, contact Evans at phillipsmemorialhall@gmail.com or at (402) 886-2324.
Local organizations supporting the 3rd of July event this year are the Phillips Community Foundation, Inc., Becks, Albion Meat Locker, Bergmark Auctioneering and the Keith and Norma Heuermann Fund.
A complete list of sponsors will be posted at the event.