Southwest City Celebrates Third Of July
Southwest City is gearing up to host the area’s 51st annual Third of July Celebration at Blankenship Park on Main Street.
The public is invited to join in the evening festivities, starting at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, July 3, with an old-fashioned barbecue chicken dinner, grilled and served by the Southwest City Commercial Club. Plates will include a halfchicken, two side orders and bread for $6.
Proceeds will support yearly events sponsored by the club.
Southwest City’s Summer Ball Program will have additional food and refreshments at the park’s concession stand, including hamburgers, hot dogs and drinks.
Proceeds support the Summer Ball Program.
At 6:30 p.m. five tons of free watermelon will be available to guests, courtesy of The Cornerstone Bank. Multiple serving stations will be set up throughout the park so that attendees can snag and salt their melon, then sit and enjoy the live music.
Becky Lercher will begin the on-stage entertainment at 6 p.m. Southern Gospel runs in the blood of the nationally known artist. After graduation, Lercher spent 16 years performing with her family, the Stanley Jones Singers. In 2004, Lercher continued her musical career with a solo ministry that blesses hearts across the country. She guarantees “both excitement and heartfelt worship” with each concert.
Spillwater Drive will take the stage afterward. The four-piece band of bluegrass veterans delivers “hard-driving bluegrass music” from the Southwest Missouri/Northwest Arkansas area. With Jake Stodgill on guitar, Adam Ash on banjo, Samuel Cobb on mandolin, Gary Cook on bass fiddle and the whole group on vocals, they are sure to strike a chord with audience members. Spillwater Drive was also featured at Silver Dollar City’s recent bluegrass festival.
The city’s renowned fireworks extravaganza will begin at dusk. Southwest City has one of the most well-attended displays in the county.
Don’t forget to bring your lawn chairs and blankets to enjoy the show.
City officials remind the public that no personal fireworks or unapproved vendors are allowed in the park during the day of the event. No alcoholic beverages are allowed on the premises. They also ask that all waste be placed in a receptacle.