Is it 4th of July, already? Yes!
The Sperryville Volunteer Fire Department has organized the Rappahannock County 4th of July Celebration for the past five years, and will do it again this July 4 – a Wednesday – down at the Thornton Hill Race Course south of Sperryville on U.S. 522. It’s the largest community event in the county, and up to 4,000 mostly local attendees are expected.
Here’s what you can expect: Fireworks at dusk, gates that open at 1 for: music by Narrow Path Bluegrass, Dontez Inferno and the Gold Top County Ramblers; food, antique cars and tractors; local nonprofit displays, children’s games, face painting, Tubs-o-fun Kiddie Ride, Stars & Stripes Mechanical Bull, moon bounce, cliff hanger slide, dunk tank, Medi-vac Helicopter display and more. A 2012 Kawasaki Mule 4010 4x4 Realtree Camo will be raffled of at 9 p.m.; only 250 tickets will be sold.
General admission is $20 per vehicle. If you want tailgating space – room to put up an 8-by-8foot tent – that’s $40. Sponsorships – prime space on the infield, reserved parking and special recognition during the event – are $500. (But if you, your company or organization purchase a sponsorship by June 15, the price is $400. Contact Gary Settle at gtsettle@hotmail.com if you’re interested in being a sponsor, or underwriter, of the event.)
Other vendors on hand July 4 include RAWL, Hospice of Rapidan, Rapp Cats, Boy & Girl Scouts, Sheriff ’s DARE Program, Reynolds Memorial Baptist Church, F. T. Valley Baptist Church, Wakefield Country Day School, Children’s Miracle Network, Operation Home Front and the county’s Civil War Sesquicentennial Committee.
“The event is work intensive and supported by every member of the Sperryville Volunteer Fire Department,” said this year’s chief organizer, Gary Settle. “However, because of the extreme costs associated with putting on an event of this magnitude, underwriters are needed each and every year to sustain the event at its current level. With this, very special thanks goes out to our current underwriters: Jamie, Lilla and Bill Fletcher, Hampton Foundation, B&B Signal Company, Greve Foundation, Traffic Control and Marking Systems, Greg Williams Tree Service and Landscaping Service, Cheri and Martin Woodard and Union First Market Bank. The continued support of these dedicated people and businesses allows the citizens of Rappahannock County and its neighbors to enjoy fellowship and celebration at a location that is arguably one of the most breathtaking venues in Rappahannock County.
“I look forward to seeing everyone again this year!” Settle said. “Come out and support your community and enjoy the best fireworks display in the area.”
The rain date – though, as Settle put it, “I don’t even want to think about rain!” – is July 5.
For more information, call 540-987-8124 or visit sperryvillefire.com.