Looking for something to do next weekend?
The Fourth Annual Stanley Independence Day Celebration is coming to Chapman Park on Saturday July 5.
Started by Tom Larson of Reclaimed Tavern and now with its own 501c3 known as Stanley Independence Day Celebration (SDIC), the annual event is put on with help from numerous volunteers, with gates open at 3 p.m. July 5.
Kids events at the Independence Day Celebration are free, while food vendors and beer tent tickets will cost money. As there will be a professional fireworks show later in the evening, absolutely no personal fireworks are allowed at the event.
Among the many other attractions at this year’s Independence Day Celebration in Chapman Park are some old favorites, including (but not limited) to several raffles (bucket, bike, meat), kid’s face painting, glitter tattoos, and bounce houses.
“We’ve got bigger bounce houses coming,” Larson said for this year’s celebration.
New to this year’s Independence Day Celebration meanwhile are a rock wall, “mechanical skateboard,” bungie basketball, and mid-sized obstacle course, alongside two giant obstacle courses. Each activity is sponsored by a local area business.
As in past years the Independence Day Celebration July 5 will have food vendors, main stage entertainment, a beer and wine tent, and corn hole tournament. Also taking place will be Lego Wars from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. a repeat from last year’s celebration.
The Independence Day Celebration will also have free hot dogs from by SIDC with buns from Hansen’s IGA, as well as free water. Free Cotton candy made on site by the police department, with free ice cream sponsored by Debbie’s on Broadway (all until supplies run out).
The main raffle will take place at 7 p.m., with someone winning a $45,000 grand prize on the main stage, to be spent on the vehicle of one’s choice, thanks to Courtesy Ford. Tickets for the main raffle, meanwhile, are selling fast.
“When they’re gone, they gone,” Larson said. Tickets can be found while they last at Cindy’s, The Wasted Grain, SunUp Saloon, Reclaimed Tavern, Debbie’s on Broadway, Curve Inn at Otter Lake, Corner Barn, Maple Hill Tavern, Conley’s Hill House, Boondocks Bar and Grill, Scheduler’s Huron Tavern and Campground, Twilite Zone, Tom’s Stanley Bar and Bowl, Oemig’s Sport Shop LLC, Tolley’s Bowl and Bar, Kelly Grill, Courtesy Ford, Lube Suppliers, and Hazuga’s True Value Hardware.
As for the Independence Day Celebration July 5, closing ceremonies begin at 9 p.m., with the Fire Department lowering the flag and the VFW/Legion holding a flag folding ceremony. The VFW/Legion will present colors at 9:55 p.m., followed by a 21 gun salute. At 10 p.m. the light show and fireworks begin, with an upgraded sound system syncing the fireworks to music.
“Once again this will be one of the best community events in the Upper Midwest (We believe in the entire country),” Stanley Independence Day Celebration. “Mark your calendars you do not want to miss this year’s show; we are coming back bigger than ever.”
Come and enjoy the professional fireworks show July 5!