Valley Fourth Celebration On Tap
July 02, 2018
By KENDRA STRAWDERMAN
For the Daily News-Record 7/2/18
HARRISONBURG — Valley Fourth, presented by Harrisonburg Downtown Renaissance, will return for the 17th year this Independence Day, but for the second year in a row, the celebration will not include a parade.
In 2017, the organization cited extensive costs to the Harrisonburg Police and Public Works departments, depressed sales at downtown businesses and a lack of volunteers as reasons why the parade would not be held.
This year’s celebration, however, will have a slew of activities marking the nation’s 242nd birthday from 8 a.m. to 9:45 p.m. Wednesday, concluding with the annual fireworks show.
The annual Valley 4th Run, the only chipped timing race in the Shenandoah Valley, helps kick off festivities. The run, which supports local charities, such as Scholars’ Latino Initiative and Fairfield Center, starts at 8:20 a.m. and finishes at 10 a.m. The race allows participants to choose their distance — 1.5 miles, 5K or 10K.
Details of the run and registration requirements are available at www.vamomentum.com/valley-4th-run.
To allow for the run, both lanes of South Main Street from Franklin to Gay streets; Court Square and Federal Street from Bruce to Wolfe streets will be closed 7 a.m. to noon. The left lane of Liberty Street from Gay to Bruce also will be closed.
All streets will reopen at noon, except for Warren Street, which will remain closed until 11 p.m.
At noon, the traditional reading of the Declaration of Independence will be presented for the 23rd year by the Fort Harrison Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution on the steps of the Rockingham County Courthouse.
Other activities include “Touch a Truck” with the Harrisonburg Fire Department from 1 to 9 p.m. in the Kids’ Zone. A Classic Car Cruise- In is scheduled for 5 to 9 p.m.
“We’re having the cruise- in again this year to incorporate some of our classic car enthusiasts,” said Erin Smith, HDR’s events manager.
From 1 to 9 p.m., the vendor market place and beer garden will feature local breweries, food vendors and the Larkin Art Market.
Additionally, the Shenandoah Valley’s largest raffle, the Friendly City Fortune, will be back this year with a total of $250,000 in cash and prizes, Smith said. “Tickets are still available but selling quickly,” she said. Activities for kids include crafts with the Shenandoah Valley Art Mobile and three screenings of “The Lego Movie,” among others.
Valley Fourth also will feature live music by Free Union and Erin & the Wildfire from 5 to 9 p.m., Smith said.
The upper portion of Westover Park will close at 1 p.m. to vehicles and pedestrians and the lower portion will follow at 5 p.m. in preparation for the night’s fireworks display.
According to Smith, the fireworks are sure to be the highlight of the celebration. “The fireworks are going to be just as big as last year. We invested extra money to ensure the show will be spectacular,” she said. Some recommended viewing spots for the show, which will take place around 9:15 p.m., are Turner Pavilion, Food Maxx International Market, JMU Memorial Hall, Thomas Harrison Middle School and Westside Baptist Church.
Downtown will be accessible to vehicles on July 4, and parking is available at the Water Street and Elizabeth Street parking decks, as well as at spaces marked by blue and gold signs dispersed throughout the downtown area. The Municipal Parking Lot by Turner Pavilion and the City Hall Parking lot will be closed starting at 7 a.m. for the festival. A full list of closings can be found at Harrisonburg Downtown Renaissance’s website, downtownharrisonburg.org.
Jasmine Stogdale of Mount Solon,eats some fries with her mom, Heather Auville, while they wait for the fireworks show.
Jasmine Stogdale of Mount Solon,eats some fries with her mom, Heather Auville, while they wait for the fireworks show.
For the Daily News-Record 7/2/18
HARRISONBURG — Valley Fourth, presented by Harrisonburg Downtown Renaissance, will return for the 17th year this Independence Day, but for the second year in a row, the celebration will not include a parade.
In 2017, the organization cited extensive costs to the Harrisonburg Police and Public Works departments, depressed sales at downtown businesses and a lack of volunteers as reasons why the parade would not be held.
This year’s celebration, however, will have a slew of activities marking the nation’s 242nd birthday from 8 a.m. to 9:45 p.m. Wednesday, concluding with the annual fireworks show.
The annual Valley 4th Run, the only chipped timing race in the Shenandoah Valley, helps kick off festivities. The run, which supports local charities, such as Scholars’ Latino Initiative and Fairfield Center, starts at 8:20 a.m. and finishes at 10 a.m. The race allows participants to choose their distance — 1.5 miles, 5K or 10K.
Details of the run and registration requirements are available at www.vamomentum.com/valley-4th-run.
To allow for the run, both lanes of South Main Street from Franklin to Gay streets; Court Square and Federal Street from Bruce to Wolfe streets will be closed 7 a.m. to noon. The left lane of Liberty Street from Gay to Bruce also will be closed.
All streets will reopen at noon, except for Warren Street, which will remain closed until 11 p.m.
At noon, the traditional reading of the Declaration of Independence will be presented for the 23rd year by the Fort Harrison Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution on the steps of the Rockingham County Courthouse.
Other activities include “Touch a Truck” with the Harrisonburg Fire Department from 1 to 9 p.m. in the Kids’ Zone. A Classic Car Cruise- In is scheduled for 5 to 9 p.m.
“We’re having the cruise- in again this year to incorporate some of our classic car enthusiasts,” said Erin Smith, HDR’s events manager.
From 1 to 9 p.m., the vendor market place and beer garden will feature local breweries, food vendors and the Larkin Art Market.
Additionally, the Shenandoah Valley’s largest raffle, the Friendly City Fortune, will be back this year with a total of $250,000 in cash and prizes, Smith said. “Tickets are still available but selling quickly,” she said. Activities for kids include crafts with the Shenandoah Valley Art Mobile and three screenings of “The Lego Movie,” among others.
Valley Fourth also will feature live music by Free Union and Erin & the Wildfire from 5 to 9 p.m., Smith said.
The upper portion of Westover Park will close at 1 p.m. to vehicles and pedestrians and the lower portion will follow at 5 p.m. in preparation for the night’s fireworks display.
According to Smith, the fireworks are sure to be the highlight of the celebration. “The fireworks are going to be just as big as last year. We invested extra money to ensure the show will be spectacular,” she said. Some recommended viewing spots for the show, which will take place around 9:15 p.m., are Turner Pavilion, Food Maxx International Market, JMU Memorial Hall, Thomas Harrison Middle School and Westside Baptist Church.
Downtown will be accessible to vehicles on July 4, and parking is available at the Water Street and Elizabeth Street parking decks, as well as at spaces marked by blue and gold signs dispersed throughout the downtown area. The Municipal Parking Lot by Turner Pavilion and the City Hall Parking lot will be closed starting at 7 a.m. for the festival. A full list of closings can be found at Harrisonburg Downtown Renaissance’s website, downtownharrisonburg.org.
Jasmine Stogdale of Mount Solon,eats some fries with her mom, Heather Auville, while they wait for the fireworks show.
Jasmine Stogdale of Mount Solon,eats some fries with her mom, Heather Auville, while they wait for the fireworks show.
