Several ways to play on Fourth of July

It's time to celebrate Independence Day!

Two hundred and thirty six years ago, the Declaration of Independence was signed, declaring the United States' independence from Great Britain.

Since then, citizens have celebrated the Fourth of July with family and friends with picnics and barbecues, parades, fireworks, reunions, ball games, dances and more.

There's no shortage of things to do in Douglas County this July 4th!

EVANSVILLE COMMUNITY CELEBRATION

Wednesday, July 4

8:30 a.m.: Healthy Choices 5K Run/Walk. Free and open to all ages. Registration at 8:30 a.m. at It Figures/Fitness and Tanning.

10:30 a.m.: Bean Bag Tournament. Registration from 9:30 to 10 a.m. Call (320) 808-4528 for details.

1:45 p.m.: Kiddy Parade. Theme is Beach Days in Evansville. Line up at 1:30 p.m. at Evansville Care Center.

Afternoon: Activities at school grounds for everyone, including Erickson's Petting Zoo, Bounce House, Clueless, balloon twister, money/candy/toys in the straw, dunk tank, games, food vendors, root beer floats provided by Calvary Covenant Church.

5-8 p.m.: Community Club Pork Chop Feed at Evansville Community Center.

7 p.m.: Baseball game featuring Blue Dogs vs. Ashby.

8-9 p.m.: Music in the Gym by Country Couple.

9 p.m.: Watermelon Feed, button and raffle drawings.

Fireworks Spectacular following the Blue Dog baseball game.

Friday, July 6

6 p.m.: Evansville Care Center Walk of Ages. Cost is $5; all profits go to Alzheimer's Association. Registration begins at 5:30 p.m. at First Security Bank parking lot.

7-9:30 p.m.: Evansville Arts Coalition Street Concert, featuring Tom Sellin and granddaughter Ellie Wallace. Bring lawn chairs. Serving cake in honor of the building's 100th birthday

Saturday, July 7

7 a.m.: All-town garage sale.

8 a.m.: 8-team Co-Ed Volleyball Tournament. Call Roger at (320) 834-4677 or Jeff at (320) 492-9316.

9 a.m.: Bake Sale and Luncheon at Faith Lutheran Church.

9 a.m.-1 p.m.: Vendor Show at the Senior Citizen Center.

Noon to 1:30 p.m.: Children's Book Reading hosted by Evansville Art Center. Becky Cox will read her book; Tommy the Timid Turtle.

9 p.m.: Firemen's Street Dance at the Fire Hall featuring Nasty Habit.

Sunday, July 8

10:30 a.m.: Community Church Service at Faith Lutheran Church. Luncheon to follow by Faith Women.

ARROWWOOD RESORT ACTIVITIES

Arrowwood Resort and Conference Center is hosting a variety of activities for the public on Wednesday, July 4:

12-1 p.m.: Wacky Olympics relay races on the front lawn.

1-2 p.m.: Kid Friendly Tattoos on the Boardwalk.

2:30-3 p.m.: Family Scavenger Hunt. Pick up your item list at the Boardwalk. You have 30 minutes to complete the list. Prizes awarded.

3:30-4:30 p.m.: Wacky Putt-Putt Tourney at putting course.

5-6 p.m.: Minute to Win It. You only have one minute to complete each fun and tricky task. Sign up starting at 4:30 p.m. on the front lawn.

7 p.m.: Wolf's Game Show.

Dusk: Star Storm 2012 fireworks show over Lake Darling.

FIREWORKS

Star Storm 2012 at Arrowood Resort and Conference Center - fireworks display over Lake Darling choreographed to music broadcast on KXRA 92 FM radio. Watch from the lake or on the grounds of the resort. Show begins at dusk.

Osakis Country Club - the fireworks display will begin at dusk.

Evansville - Fireworks Spectacular to begin following Blue Dog baseball game at the high school ball field.

BOAT PARADES

Lake Victoria: The annual boat parade will be held at 10:30 a.m., starting from the south end of the Lake Victoria boat access. It will proceed to the north end of the lake for judging. Trophies will be given for best floats.

Lake Latoka: The Lake Latoka Association will host its annual boat parade. Decorated boats should assemble at 10:30 a.m. in Little Latoka, Monger Bay. The parade will begin at 11 a.m. and circle clockwise, proceeding into larger Latoka Lake and continuing clockwise back toward the I-94 bridge to complete the parade. Appropriate patriotic decorations for boats and passengers are recommended. Shore owners are also encouraged to decorate their docks and boat lifts. In the event of inclement weather, the parade will be cancelled with an announcement broadcast over KXRA-Radio.

Lake Osakis: The 5th annual Ferret Drive Floaters 4th of July Pontoon (or whatever floats) Parade is back. Participants will line up at 1 p.m. on the east side of Lake Osakis in front of Baugh's Creek. Trophy and bragging rights will be awarded after the parade at the Hayes' place.

Several other boat parades in the area are planned, including ones on lakes Carlos and Big Chip. (The newspaper didn't receive information about those parades.)

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