MASSILLON – Downtown will be rockin’ times two later this week as the city’s annual July 3 celebration steps off with a bicentennial parade.
The free celebration is tied to Massillon’s 200th birthday, featuring live music, family activities, face painting, food trucks and fireworks on Duncan Plaza, which is tucked between the Massillon Museum and Massillon Government & Justice Center.
City Councilwoman Holly Bryan-Huth said the city’s bicentennial corresponding with the 250th birthday of the United States makes July 3 a special celebration day for Massillon.
“I can’t wait to see the floats and parade participants from all the groups and organizations in town, showcasing their unique ways of celebrating our (city and) country’s birthday,” she said.
Festivities start around 5 p.m. and run to about 10 p.m. Kicking off the bash is a bicentennial, patriotic parade slated for 6 p.m. A live music performance with La Flavour is to begin at 7:30 p.m.
The annual Li’l Miss Liberty & Li’l Uncle Sam pageants are not part of the celebration lineup this year, said Lauren Davis, the Massillon Parks & Recreation Department marketing and events coordinator. However, this year’s youth contestants will be represented with their own Stars & Stripes parade float.
Some other parade floats will feature the Spring Hill Home in Massillon, BellStores, the museum and an unspecified U.S. freedom display, Davis said.
LaFlavour front man and saxophone player Craig DeBock said playing music for the city’s 200th birthday is a major honor.
“We’re extremely happy to be on the bill,” said DeBock. “It should be a big one for us and an exciting time. Hopefully the weather holds up, and a lot of people come out.”
LaFlavour formed in Massillon in 1967, and the group specializes in a mix of dance music from the 1970s, ’80s, ’90s and 2000s. The band is frequently the headline act of Massillon’s annual Summer Concert Series.
The group’s most successful tune, Mandalay, reached No. 7 in 1979 on the Disco Top 60 chart.
Local U.S. military veterans are to be recognized by city officials after the parade on Duncan Plaza, prior to LaFlavour’s music performance. The celebration concludes with a fireworks display.
“The concert in the plaza and the fireworks at night will be the perfect grand finale to our festivities,” Bryan-Huth said.
Reach Steven Grazier at steven.grazier@indeonline.com. On X (formerly Twitter): @sgrazierINDE
This article originally appeared on The Independent: Massillon plans bicentennial parade and fireworks as part of July 3 celebration
Reporting by Steven M. Grazier, Massillon Independent / The Independent
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Steven M. Grazier, Massillon Independent | USA TODAY Network
