Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
WINONA LAKE - The "Great Fourth of July" Celebration 2002 is July 6, beginning at 7 a.m. with registrations for the 5K run/walk and ending with music and fireworks long after dark. Events are held in and around Winona Lake Park.
There are a few changes this year, according to Kirk McCutcheon, a member of the town's publicity committee.
This year preregistration is required for the Prince and Princess Winona and limited to the first 50 participants. Applications are available on the celebration brochure and on the Web site: www.winonalake.net
There are two groups, ages 5 through 8, and dress is casual.
The kid's parade lineup is at 10:30 a.m. and has a stars-and-stripes theme. The lineup begins at the south end of the park across the Wyland Ditch bridge.
Prizes are awarded to best dressed bicycle, wagon, tricycle or any other kiddie vehicle. Categories include best theme, most original decoration, most creative decoration and most entertaining.
Games and rides begin at noon and last until 8 p.m.
The fun includes a dunk tank with town council members Jerry Clevenger, David Delp, Craig Snow and Rolly Ortega. Other suitable targets include Craig Allebach, Dan Graney, police officers Poulston and Sammons and Mark Illingworth. The tank is sponsored by the Winona Lake Presby Youth Group. Proceeds go to the Winona Lake Fire Department.
ML Motorsports' ARCA #67 race car will be on display from noon until 8 p.m.
Kids' games - a balloon toss, Big Wheel races, sack races, etc. - are set for noon to 1 p.m. and 3:30 to 4:30 p.m.
Prince and Princess Winona interviews are from noon until 2 p.m., with the awards ceremony at 3:30 p.m.
The new senior center will be unveiled with an open house from 1 to 3 p.m.
The Back to the Days of Kosciuszko organizers will have a small settlement at the park; a K-9 demonstration will be given by the Kosciusko County Sheriff's Department at 2 p.m. and at 6:30 p.m. by the Winona Lake Police Department.
The Chain Gang barbershop quartet performs from 3 to 5 p.m.; Doc Wadkins and Hard Pack perform from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.
There will be a classic car cruise-in, with registration at 3 p.m. The awards ceremony is at 7:30 p.m.
There also is a pie-eating contest, Tae Kwondo demonstrations, a commemorative poster signing by Jennifer Ortega and a strawberry shortcake social.
At 7:30 p.m. the MasterWorks Orchestra will perform Tchaikovsky's "1812 Overture" and Copland's "Lincoln Portrait" at the Hillside Auditorium. Winners of the MasterWorks concerto competition will perform Beethoven's "Symphony No. 5."
Fireworks begin around 9 p.m.
Publicity committee members include Kirk and Lori McCutcheon, Jerry Clevenger, Bill and Amy Stevenson, Cookie and Art Gackstattler, Jan and Mark Illingsworth, Willa Henry, Angie Tom and Denny Duncan.
For more information, call 267-7581.
