Parades, picnics, fireworks, music, baseballFourth of July celebrations will take place throughout Wauaca County. Following are the schedules for each community.

Waupaca
Waupaca’s Hometown Day Celebration will be held Saturday, July 4, with a parade in the morning and fireworks at dusk over Shadow Lake.

The parade begins at 10 a.m. and will travel North Main Street from North Division Street to Lake Street.
A race sponsored by Assembly of God Church will run the parade route just prior to the parade at approximately 9:45 a.m.

Trinity Lutheran Church will collect canned food items along the parade route for the Waupaca Area Food Pantry. Parade viewers may bring non-perishable food items, and church members will walk the parade route with their float picking up donations.

Following the parade, the Knights of Columbus will host its annual chicken barbecue in Upper South Park serving chicken, hamburgers, hot dogs and soda. Drive-though pickup will be available. The Popcorn Wagon will be in Lower South Park serving soda, nachos, popcorn and cotton candy before and during the fireworks. Proceeds go to various charity organizations supported by the Knights of Columbus.

At 6:30 p.m., the Chain Skiers will perform on Rainbow Lake with viewing available at the Wisconsin Veterans Home Marden Center.

The fireworks show will start over Shadow Lake at 9:30 p.m. WDUX FM 92.7 will broadcast patriotic music during the show. Lakeside Parkway, from High Street to the recycling center, will be open to emergency vehicles only from 7-11 p.m. with pedestrian viewing on the walking trail but not the roadway. Lawn chairs are recommended. Parking for the fireworks will be available in the Waupaca Recycling Center organized by Foundations for Living with a freewill donation.

The annual celebration is coordinated by the Waupaca Area Chamber of Commerce with the volunteer and financial support of the local municipalities, businesses, civic organizations and individuals.

New London
Festivities kick off at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, July 4, when the gates open to Hatten Stadium. Children’s games and a performance by the band Three Way Street begin at 7 p.m.

Fireworks will launch after dark and admission is free.

Highlights this year will include a “Wall of Fire” and a 250-foot-long firework waterfall that will outperform last year’s 35-foot waterfall, according to Great Lakes Fireworks pyrotechnician Rich Schmidt.

Schmidt said people should come to Hatten Stadium for the show. Although spectators can watch the sky from nearby schools and homes, he said they miss the excitement happening on the stadium grass.

“The aerial stuff, everybody does that,” Schmidt said. “It’s what we do inside the stadium that people don’t see. … People are floored when they get to see the ground displays on the ground, and that’s what fireworks is all about.”

Clintonville
Clintonville will celebrate Independence Day on Friday, July 3, in the W.A. Olen Athletic Field.

A couple of businesses are sponsoring Mike Daley with his band Taxi, to play prior to and after the fireworks.

A fireworks display show is set to start at dusk.

Refreshments are available and there is no admission charge.

Weyauwega
In Weyauwega, the holiday will be celebrated on Friday, July 3, at the Waupaca County Fairgrounds.

Danny Darren will provide music, beginning at approximately 6:30 p.m.

People are encouraged to bring food and beverages and to grill out and listen to the music before the fireworks show begins at dusk.

Iola
A fireworks extravaganza will be offered at dusk Friday, July 3, at Taylor Field.

A disc jockey will entertain before and during the fireworks. Baseball, softball and kickball games begin at 4:30 p.m. and will include the annual softball game between the Iola Rural Fire Department and Scandinavia Fire Department.

A cash raffle with a $1,000 grand prize is being offered by the Iola-Scandinavia Area Chamber of Commerce.

Fremont
On Saturday, July 4, the annual Kiddie Parade will take place at 10 a.m.

Registration will take place at 9 a.m., across the street from Premier Bank. There is no registration fee.
Sponsored by the Fremont Fire Department, the kiddie parade will go down Wolf River Drive.

Manawa
The Manawa Rodeo Parade begins at 10 a.m. Saturday, July 4, at Little Wolf High School and ends at the Mid-Western Rodeo Grounds.

The parade is one of the highlights of the annual Mid-Western Rodeo that runs from July 2-4 in Manawa.
Fireworks will follow the 7:30 p.m. rodeo on Thursday, July 2.

Hortonville
Hortonville’s parade begins at noon Saturday, July 4, at the high school and ends at Alonzo Village Park.

Following the parade, a community picnic is planned from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Alonzo Park, featuring food, refreshments and family entertainment.