Get ready to celebrate the Fourth of July at Staunton's Happy Birthday America!
Monique Calello
Staunton's Happy Birthday America!
STAUNTON — Break out the red, white, and blue attire and get ready to celebrate: Staunton's Happy Birthday America celebration returns at Gypsy Hill Park with three days of festivities. Here's the schedule so you can make the most of your Fourth of July.
Schedule of events
Sunday, June 30
- 1 p.m. Happy Birthday America beauty pageant (recreation building by the golf course)
Wednesday, July 3
- 2 p.m. Vendors & Carnival open for business (on the main lot)
- 6:30 p.m. Vesper Service begins (main stage on ball field)
- Keynote speaker: Johnny Minick
- 7:30 p.m. Heaven's Mountain Band (main stage)
- 8:15 p.m. Jeff & Sheri Easter
Thursday, July 4
- 6 a.m. Gates open on ball field to bring in lawn chairs for the Chair Dash
- 7:30 a.m. Firecracker 5K run by Sole Focus (Gypsy Hill Park)
- 7:30-9:30 a.m. Parade line up on Thornrose Avenue
- 10 a.m. Parade begins (Gypsy Hill Park)
- Noon-10 p.m. Main lot open with food, vendors and carnival
- 2 p.m. Stonewall Brigade Band concert (bandstand stage)
- 3 p.m. Prime (main stage)
- 4:30 p.m. Spencer Hatcher & The Ol' Son Gang (main stage)
- 6 p.m. Jack & Davis Reid music (main stage)
- 7:30 p.m. Wilson Fairchild concert (main stage)
- 8:30 p.m. Wade Hayes (main stage)
- 9:45 p.m. Veteran salute (main stage)
- 9:45-10 p.m. Fireworks show to start
Staunton's Firecracker 5K
- Hosted by Sole Focus Running
- Thursday, July 4
- 7:30 a.m.
- Gypsy Hill Park, 600 Churchville Ave.
- More info: Firecracker 5K
Parking
Visitors to the celebrations will have to use street parking in the areas surrounding the park. The organizers urge patrons to be aware of driveways and fire hydrants when finding a place to park.
There will be a free handicap-accessible parking lot in the main event lot (adjacent to the dog park and Lake Tams). The lot is first-come, first-serve, and spaces are expected to fill up quickly. There is a designated "bus drop" location in the lot where handicapped patrons can be dropped off.
Cost
The only two events requiring an admission fee are the Happy Birthday America pageant on Saturday, $5 for adults and free for children (ages 12 and under), and the Sole Focus Running Firecracker 5K.
Pets
Pets are not allowed on the baseball field (concert area) or in the concession/vendor fairgrounds area. For July 3 and 4, pets are only allowed in the general grounds area of Gypsy Hill Park.
Service animals are allowed in all areas as required by law.
For more information, visit the Happy Birthday America website.
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