Back in 1776, the Second Continental Congress met at the Pennsylvania State House in Philadelphia—later known as Independence Hall—to formally adopt the Declaration of Independence.
Drawn up in committee and committed to paper with 56 signatures, the Declaration drew on both English common law and history, formalizing the grievances of 13 allied states engaged in ongoing hostilities with Great Britain, the same 13 later uniting as one to become the United States of America.
Now some 250 years later, memory of that declaration is celebrated each July 4 in the United States, including at Chapman Park in Stanley.
Independence Day organizer Tom Larson shared more on the Fifth Annual Independence Day Celebration.
“This is a big celebration,” he said. Starting at 4 p.m. and free to attendees, ‘the Celebration will include a blacksmith demonstration from Joe Stuttgen in the vendor area and Warm Kids Wisconsin providing free cotton candy. Debbie’s on Broadway will donate ice cream to the event, with RMC Landscaping donating free water. Hansen’s IGA is donating hot dog buns for free hot dogs.
Now five years strong and made possible thanks to help from both sponsors and volunteers, the Independence Day Celebration in Chapman Park will include live music, vendors, bike, meat, and bucket raffles along with several events, including axe throwing, nine inflatables, glitter tattoos, plinko, and more!
A main raffle drawing will take pace at 7 p.m. on the main stage, with the bike and bucket raffle drawings at 8 p.m.
Raffle prizes include a Gravely UTV for Lube Suppliers, a Polaris Sportsman four wheeler, three separate cash prizes of $12,000, $7,000, and $5,000 respectively, and over 100 other prizes. Winners need not be present to win.
The Fire Department will lower the flag at 9 p.m. for the Legion/VFW flag folding ceremony near the bandstand, followed with presentation of the colors and a 21-gun salute at 9:55 p.m. form the VFW/Legion. Come 10 p.m., the fireworks will start, with a professional fireworks show put on by put on by Moretti Pyrotechnics LLC at 10 p.m. No personal fireworks will be allowed at the event for safety reasons.
“Shane Moretti said he’s bringing his best stuff,” Larson said of the celebration and professional fireworks show on Saturday, July 4.
New this year, the fireworks show will be synced and broadcast on an FM radio station, with speakers through the park so that everyone can enjoy the show! Readers can check the Facebook page for the Stanley Independence Day Celebration to learn more.
As for raffle tickets, they are available for purchase at Sport Rider, Hazuga’s True Value Hardware, Tom’s Stanley Bar and Bowl, Oemig’s Sport Shop LLC, Wisconsin Veteran Farm & Winery, Corner Bar, Otter Lake Bait Shop, Debbie’s On Broadway LLC, Kelly Grill, Early Birds Pub & Grub, Mike’s Buckhorn Bar & Campground, Lube Suppliers Store, Stanley Truck Sales Inc., Modern Beauty Salon, Scheidler’s Huron Tavern & Restaurant, Bobbi Jo’s Curve Inn, Tolley’s Bowl & Bar, Derks Farms Beef, Mel’s Foxx Den, Crescent Tavern, Maple Hill Tavern, Double D Saloon, Conley’s Hill House, and Reclaimed Tavern.

A full list of events follows:

3:00 p.m. Gates Open!
Eric Dahl takes the stage
Vendor Fair begins
Bucket raffle begins
Bike Raffle sign up begins
Meat Raffle begins
Main stage entertainment starts
Beer/Wine tent opens
Cornhole tournament begins
Food vendors open

4:00 p.m.
Free hot dogs, ice cream, cotton candy and water begin (while supplies last)
Benny G takes the stage

Kids Events Open
Axe throwing opens
Glitter tattoos
Nine Inflatables this year
Plinko and more family fun throughout the park

6:00 p.m.
HGT takes the main stage

7:00 p.m.
Main Raffle drawing

8:00 p.m.
Bike Raffle drawing
Bucket Raffle drawing inside the Community Building

9:00 p.m. Opening Ceremonies Begin
The Fire Department will lower the flag
The VFW/Legion will hold a flag-folding ceremony

9:55 p.m.
VFW/Legion will present the colors
21 Gun Salute

10:00 p.m.
Light show and fireworks begin

Sponsors for this year’s Independence Day Celebration are as follows:

Stanley Tire Center
Soggy Bottom Trucking
Stanley Hometown Dentistry 
Hazuga’s True Value
Debbie’s on Broadway
RMC Gardening & Landscaping
Reclaimed Tavern
Moretti Pyrotechnics
Maple Hill Tavern
Harris Family Chiropractic
Westaby Trucking
Reits Garden Center
Ele’s Flowers
Hetch’s LLC of Boyd
Superior Screen Printing
Print Wisconsin 
Schuebel Lawn Services
Chwala Construction
Broadway Boutique
Derks Meats
May’s Auto Sales
Sytech 4th Avenue
Forward Financial
Cody’s Classic Cars
Stanley Equipment Rental
Chippewa Concrete Services
MEL’S FOXX DEN
Tom’s Stanley Bar and Bowl
Oemig’s Sport Shop, LLC 
Lube Suppliers Store 
Martino’s Restaurant
Sport rider
Split rock Excavating
Central car Transport
Kelly Grill
Hansen’s IGA 
Plombon’s funeral home
Fredrickson implement
Kutzee’s Supper Club
DJ’s Mart
Stanley movie Theater
Wisconsin Veteran Farm & Winery
Central Care Transportation
Bobbi Jo’s Curve Inn
Gib’s Affordable Septic & Sand Pumping

Mike’s Buckhorn Bar & Campground
Firehouse Friends Childcare Center
Conley’s Hill House