Independence Day: Communities plan 4th of July activities

Here are some of the events planned this year:

St. Matthews

The Calhoun County Fourth of July Celebration will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. Saturday, June 29, on Richland Avenue across from the Calhoun Convalescent Center.

There will be live music, food vendors and fireworks.

More than a dozen vendors are expected to be on hand with everything from Italian ice and lemonade to barbecue and burgers.

Cotton candy, hotdogs and ice cream are among the other treats that will be available, along with a bounce house and mechanical bull for children. The Gas Pumpers band will also perform at the celebration.

A fireworks show will begin at dusk.

Orangeburg

Orangeburg County will celebrate the holiday with an event sponsored by the Orangeburg County Fair Association. The annual community event will be held from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday, July 4, at the Orangeburg County Fairgrounds, located at 350 Magnolia St. in Orangeburg.

“I’d like to see the community come out, have fun and come together as one big family,” County Fair Association President Lin Hair said.

“We just want to get the community together to have a great time,” he said.

Bounce houses, a foam tent and food will be on hand. Food trucks will be on-site, ready to serve everything from mini donuts to barbecue, fish and shrimp.

Admission and parking are free. No coolers are allowed and a clear bag policy will be enforced. Seating is limited, so lawn chairs and blankets are welcome.

Hair said any individual 16 years of age or younger will have to be accompanied by a 21-year-old adult.

“At our discretion, we will check IDs on youth coming into the fairgrounds,” he said.

Ja’Bae’s Italian Water Ice and Dae’s Delicious Dogs are among the food truck vendors which will be at the event.

The Men of Distinction band will provide live music beginning at 5:30 p.m., followed by a program and recognition of veterans at 7 p.m. A fireworks show will begin at 9 p.m.

Other event sponsors include, but are not limited to, the City of Orangeburg, the Orangeburg Department of Public Utilities, the County of Orangeburg and Mike’s Fireworks.

Visit www.orangeburgfair.com or Facebook at www.facebook.com/orangeburgcountyfair for more information.

The City of Bamberg’s 4th of July Celebration promises to be exciting, with music, a parade, a fireworks show and much more on Thursday, July 4.

American Idol finalist and Bamberg native Warren Peay will perform at 7:30 p.m. in Guess Park at 2936 Railroad Ave. Food vendors will be on hand from 6 to 10 p.m.

Full as a Tick, Theo’s Caribbean, Meeks Treats and A and B Snak Shak are among the many vendors that plan to be at the celebration.

A fire truck spray time, where folks can cool off, will be held along the railroad berm between Carlisle and Cannon streets at 6:30 p.m. Line dancing will also be held at 7 p.m. in Guess Park.

The event will also feature a pet costume contest.

A Fourth of July parade will be held at 8 p.m. The parade will begin on Bell Street and will proceed east down Heritage Highway.

DJ Eugene Anderson will provide music beginning at 8:30 p.m.

The finale of the evening will be the huge 4th of July Fireworks Show at 9 p.m. on the old railroad berm on East Heritage Highway. The fireworks are courtesy of Phoenix Specialty.

Everybody’s invited to bring their lawn chairs and blankets to the berm and enjoy the colorful pyrotechnics.

Springfield

The Town of Springfield will hold a July 4th celebration at Bethea Football Field on Railroad Avenue from 6 to 11 p.m. Thursday, July 4.

A golf cart parade will begin at 6 p.m. A patriotic dress contest for all ages will also be part of the celebration, along with food and drink and a DJ.

The Town of Elloree will hold an Independence Day celebration and fireworks show at Joe Miller Park starting at 7 p.m. Wednesday, July 3.

Watermelon, sweet corn, hamburgers, hotdogs, chips, water and soda will be on sale.

A patriotic program will be held at 7:30 p.m. DJ Don Weidle will provide music during the event.

The day will culminate with a spectacular fireworks display that will begin after dark.

Individuals are welcome to bring their lawn chairs and blankets.

For more information, call Elloree Town Hall at 803-897-2821, email clerk@elloreesc.com or visit www.elloreesc.com.

Holly Hill

The annual Bennett Circle Parade will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday, July 4. Individuals are encouraged to decorate everything from golf carts, bicycles, tricycles and wagons to strollers, lawnmowers and scooters. Individuals can also decorate their pets or themselves. No cars or trucks are allowed. For more information, call 803-496-3330.

St. George

St. George will hold its Independence Celebration on Thursday, June 27, at St. George Middle School, located at 600 Minus St. Food vendors, games and music by DJ Richie Rich will begin at 5 p.m. A watermelon eating contest will kick off at 7 p.m., and a kids’ bike parade will start at 7:30 p.m. A glow-cart parade is scheduled for 8:45 p.m., followed by a fireworks show at 9:30 p.m. More information can be found online at www.saintgeorgesc.org. The event will be held on Thursday, July 11, in the event of inclement weather.

Patriotic Paddle

The South Fork Patriotic Paddle, a canoe/kayak trip sponsored by Denmark First Baptist Church, will begin at 9 a.m. Saturday, July 13.

The trip will take place on the South Fork of the Edisto River. Patriotic decorations are optional.

Boats will launch from Bobcat Landing on U.S. Highway 301 for the approximately eight-mile paddle.

To rent a boat and gear, call 803-614-9836. For more information, call 803-300-1972, or email southforkpaddlers@gmail.com.

Eutawville

The Town of Eutawville will hold an Independence Day celebration at 6 p.m. Wednesday, July 3, at the Eutawville Community Center at 419 Porcher Ave. in Eutawville.

There will be a DJ and food concessions.

A fireworks show will begin at sunset.

Individuals are welcome to bring lawn chairs.

For more information, call Eutawville Town Hall at 803-492-3374.