We’re ready to party like it’s July 4

BEACON PHOTO/MARSHA MCLAUGHLIN
Watermelon — Young folks chow down at the watermelon-eating contest at the 2008 Lake Helen July Fourth celebration.

BEACON PHOTO/MARSHA MCLAUGHLIN
Rocket's red glare — Three West Volusia cities will host fireworks displays this year, Orange City, Lake Helen and Deltona.

By Jen Horton
BEACON SPORTS WRITER

posted Jun 29, 2009 - 9:16:25am

West Volusia ended its annual July Fourth Freedom Festival two years ago, but the spirit of celebration didn’t disappear. A variety of Independence Day events are planned in West Volusia towns this year:

Orange City

Orange City spokeswoman Angel Smith said 2008 was the first year Orange City hosted a July Fourth event.

“Last year? It was a bang,” she said. “We had a very large response from the community, and we appreciated our community support.”

The Second Fireworks and Fun Day, sponsored by Orange City, will be just as great, or better.

“We’re expecting the same kind of response,” Smith said.

The Independence Day celebration is 3-9 p.m. Saturday, July 4, at Valentine Park, 1595 W. French Ave.

Admission is free, but the city requests that all who attend bring canned-food or school-supply items to be donated to local families in need.

There will be plenty of family entertainment and children’s activities, including a bungee jump and a rock wall, as well as a musical performance by the U.S. Navy Band.

Families can bring lawn chairs, blankets and picnic baskets. Food and drinks will also be available for purchase.

Fireworks start at 9 p.m.

For more information, call (386) 775-5454.

Lake Helen

Keeping with tradition, Lake Helen is going to party all day July 4, beginning with the annual parade at 10 a.m.

The parade has a patriotic theme, and anyone interested in participating can line up at Wachovia bank, 520 W. Main St., between 8 and 9 a.m. There will be several categories for parade winners: best decorated child walking or riding, best decorated adult walking or riding, best decorated float, and best overall.

The parade route runs east on New York Avenue, then south on Lakeview Drive to Ohio Avenue.

After the parade, things will go just a little bit differently than in years past.

Parks and Recreation Director Betty O’Laughlin said this year the festivities will be at the Lake Helen Equestrian Center, 321 Pleasant St.

“It’s an experiment,” O’Laughlin said. “We’re really going for the old-fashioned Fourth of July celebration.”

She said there will be lots of old-fashioned, and free, games, such as sack races, potato races and tug of war. Most everything will be free.

“We may have to have a jar for face-painting, maybe charge 25 cents,” O’Laughlin said.

She said the city and the Equestrian Center are keeping the economy in mind.

“A lot of people are out of work,” O’Laughlin said. “When it starts costing a lot, they don’t want to participate.”

At the Equestrian Center, a speed show will be presented by the West Volusia Saddle Club. Main events, food vendors and games will be located at the south end of the Equestrian Center.

The games and fun will last until about 3:30 p.m.

Live music will begin at Royal Park at 6 p.m., and the fireworks show will be at 9 p.m.

For more information about the West Volusia Saddle Club, visit www.westvolusiasaddleclub.com.

For more information about the event, call O’Laughlin at (386) 801-5757.

Deltona

The biggest city in Volusia County has one of the biggest July Fourth celebrations in West Volusia, and it just keeps growing.

“Every year, we try to do something a little bigger than the year before,” Deltona spokesman Lee Lopez said.

This year, Lopez said, the fireworks will be a little bit better than before.

The pyrotechnics will be at Dewey O. Boster Sports Complex, but the city asks those attending to ride a shuttle from City Hall to avoid parking problems.

Also, the city has worked to make the shuttle service as efficient as possible, by eliminating one stop and consolidating the buses.

“Last year, we had an estimated 11,000 people attend,” Lopez said.

Deltona’s fifth annual July Fourth Fireworks Extravaganza begins at 6 p.m. Shuttles will run from City Hall, 2345 Providence Blvd., to Dewey O. Boster Sports Complex, 1200 Saxon Blvd.

The last shuttle taking people to the Fireworks Extravaganza will leave City Hall at 8:45 p.m.

The event is free, and will feature lots of fun for the entire family, along with music.

“The band is Celebration,” Lopez said. “We try to gear our event to the entire family.”

Attendees can bring food and drinks, and there will also be food and drinks for purchase.

Seating will be on the softball field, so, “Bring chairs and blankets,” Lopez said.

Fireworks begin at 9:15 p.m., and are scheduled to last 30 minutes.

For more information, call Lopez at (386) 878-8755.

DeBary

In DeBary, there will be an old-fashioned Fourth of July celebration at DeBary Hall Historic Site, 210 Sunrise Blvd., 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

This event will feature a visit from Thomas Alva Edison.

“It’ll be a very exciting performance,” said DeBary Hall Site Manager Amber Patterson. “The Fourth of July was Thomas Edison’s favorite holiday.”

Actor and writer Frank Attwood will portray Edison in two 40-minute shows at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Audiences will learn the connection between Edison and the DeBary area, and have an opportunity to interact with the historical character.

People of all ages will enjoy games such as jump-rope and pie-eating contests.

Participants can bring a picnic lunch, or purchase food from vendors.

“We believe this old-fashioned celebration is the way Independence Day should be celebrated,” Patterson said.

The free event does not include a tour of DeBary Hall. Tours cost $5 for adults, $4 for senior citizens, and $2 for children ages 3-12, and are free for children age 2 and under.

For more information about DeBary Hall, call (386) 668-3840 or visit www.debaryhall.com.

Holiday calendar of events

FRIDAY, JULY 3

Red, White and Vroom

3-10 p.m. at the Bandshell, 70 Boardwalk, Daytona Beach. Family fun zone; concerts by Johnny Bulford and Darryl Worley; special appearance by Jeff Gordon. Free.

Spirit of America

7 p.m. at Gateway Center for the Arts, 880 North U.S. Highway 17-92, DeBary. Cherri Gaglione will perform. Tickets: $15 at the door; $12 nonmembers in advance; $10 members in advance; $5 children. Call (386) 668-5553.

SATURDAY, JULY 4

Red, White and Zoo

9 a.m.-3 p.m. at the Central Florida Zoo, 3755 Northwest U.S. Highway 17-92, Sanford. Music; games; children’s crafts; face-painting; water slide; zoo-animal encounters; watermelon-eating contest. Tickets: $10.95 for adults, $8.95 for senior citizens, and $6.95 for children ages 3-12. Children under 3 will be admitted free. Group rates are available. Call (407) 323-4550, ext. 136, or visit www.centralfloridazoo.org.

Let Freedom Ring

10 a.m. at Gateway Center for the Arts, 880 North U.S. Highway 17-92, DeBary. The Gateway Orchestra will perform. Tickets: $8 adults; $4 children. Call (386) 668-5553.

Lake Helen Fourth

10 a.m. parade in Lake Helen begins from behind Wachovia bank on Main Street, runs north on Summit Avenue to New York Avenue, east to Lakeview Drive, south to Ohio Avenue, east to Pleasant Street, and ends at 11:30 a.m. at Blake Park. Gong show; games; music; a watermelon-eating contest; food and other vendors; noon-3:30 p.m. at the Lake Helen Equestrian Center, 321 Pleasant St.; 9 p.m. fireworks at Royal Park, Lake Helen. Free. Call (386) 228-2121.

DeBary Hall event

10 a.m.-2 p.m. at DeBary Hall Historic Site, 210 Sunrise Blvd. Patriotic music; pie-eating contests; food; games. Free. Call (386) 668-3840.

Fireworks and Fun

3-10 p.m. at Valentine Park, 1595 W. French Ave., Orange City. Children’s games; inflatables; contests and prizes; music; food; fireworks at 9 p.m. Free. Call (386) 775-5454.

Red, White and Boom

6 p.m. at the Bandshell, 70 Boardwalk, Daytona Beach. Music; comedy act; fireworks at 9:40 p.m. Free. Call (386) 760-8361.

Deltona Extravaganza

6-10 p.m. at Dewey O. Boster Sports Complex, 1200 Saxon Blvd., Deltona. Food; games for the family; music; fireworks begin at 9:15 p.m. Complimentary bus service from Deltona City Hall to the sports complex. Free. Call (386) 878-8900.

Stetson concert

7:30-9:30 p.m. concert celebrating unity and diversity, in the H. Douglas Lee Chapel, Elizabeth Hall, at Stetson University, 421 N. Woodland Blvd. Free and open to the public. Sponsored by the Bahå’î School Committee. Call (386) 736-3934.

SUNDAY, JULY 5

Red, White and Zoo

9 a.m.-3 p.m. at the Central Florida Zoo, 3755 Northwest U.S. Highway 17-92, Sanford. Music; games; children’s crafts; face-painting; water slide; zoo-animal encounters; watermelon-eating contest. Tickets: $10.95 for adults, $8.95 for senior citizens, and $6.95 for children ages 3-12. Children under 3 will be admitted free. Group rates are available. Call (407) 323-4550, ext. 136, or visit www.centralfloridazoo.org.

Your event

To post your event for no charge on the community calendar www.beacononlinenews.com/calendar/calendar.php

— jen@beacononlinenews.com

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