Fourth of July events fill up local calendar
Published 7:35 pm Tuesday, July 1, 2014
Residents of Selma and Dallas County looking for a family friendly 4th of July weekend won’t have to travel far this year.
Four days of festivities kick off Friday at 4 p.m. with the City of Selma’s 4th of July celebration, followed by a fireworks display in Valley Grande at 9 p.m. and two days of racing and festivities at Yeargan Farms over the weekend.
Selma’s festivities — at Riverfront Park — run from 4 p.m. until 8 p.m. and will include standard games and food, along with music and a video board, both provided by Paul Alexander’s Porta Party DJ Entertainment.
The large video screen will be showing video of fireworks throughout the evening’s event.
Beginning at 5 p.m., the city of Valley Grande will host its own Independence Day celebration at Valley Grande City Park.
The event in Valley Grande, which features dozens of games provided by Praise Park Nazarene and Living Water Worship Center, will conclude with a fireworks show at 9 p.m.
In an earlier interview with the Times-Journal, Selma Mayor George Evans said the timing of Valley Grande’s fireworks will allow those who attend the Selma event to also see live fireworks.
“I think that going from 4 to 8 p.m. will let everybody enjoy the games and fun before they head up to Valley Grande for the fireworks they have planned for that night,” Evans said. “We are working together to support each other. I know Mayor [Wayne] Labbe came down here last Labor Day to support us, and I want to be up there for their fireworks show on the 4th.”
After the smoke from Valley Grande’s fireworks show has cleared, the public is invited to attend two days of motocross racing at Yeargan Farms.
Located at 14764 Ala. Highway 14 West in Valley Grande, Yeargan Farms will host its Race to Independence on Saturday and Sunday.
Along with the motocross practice time on Saturday and racing on Sunday, co-owner Angie Yeargan said events and activities will be available both days for area children and families.
“There is something for the whole family, and that was our whole purpose of starting Yeargan Farms,” Yeargan said. “We wanted to make this a place where families can go and have a good time.
Yeargan said people can buy a $10 armband for a full day of activities on either Saturday or Sunday, or a $15 armband can be used for both days.
“It’s huge for us to have all this other entertainment, including games and canoeing, because most tracks just have motocross,” Yeargan said. “It makes a lot more family oriented. There will be plenty for everyone to do, whether they are a race fan or not.”