CRAWFORD COUNTY, Kan. — As the nation prepares to celebrate its 250th birthday, a number of Crawford County communities are preparing to celebrate the holiday in their own unique ways over several days, leading up to July 4.

Here’s a list of Independence Day events and celebrations across the local area.

Opolis

The little town of Opolis will begin the celebration season on Saturday, June 27, with its “Fourth of July Blowout,” beginning at 5:30 p.m. at Maggie Grebe Memorial Park. There will be games, a turtle race, and a cake walk and this year’s event will also feature a covered dish picnic. Attendees are asked to bring their favorite dish to share.

Girard 

Over in Girard, Girard Events, which partners with the Girard Chamber of Commerce, will hold its annual “Liberty and Lights” Independence Day celebration at the Crawford County Fairgrounds on Wednesday, July 1. 

The event features food vendors, craft vendors, live music, watermelon feed, kids’ games, bounce houses and activities such as turtle races, culminating in a fireworks show. A highlight of the Girard celebration is the popular hot dog eating contest known as “Frankmania.”

Farlington

The celebration moves to Crawford State Park at Farlington Lake on Thursday, July 2. 

The Friends of Crawford State Park, a non-profit organization dedicated to benefiting the state park, will hold their “Lake Blast Independence Celebration” that day off the dam. 

The J3 Band will provide live music and food will be provided starting at 5 p.m. until 8 p.m. on July 2. The fireworks show begins at 9:30 p.m. as “this year's display will be bigger than ever for our 250th,” according to the local organization. 

Those planning to visit Crawford State Park are required to have a vehicle permit, a Kansas State Parks Passport, available at the gate or by visiting ksoutdoors.gov/licenses-permits-fees/kansas-state-park-entrance-and-camping-fees.

Mulberry 

The city of Mulberry is planning to hold its Independence Day celebration on Friday, July 3, at the Mulberry city ballpark. 

Featuring free hot dogs and watermelon available at 6:30 p.m., the event also offers music, kids’ activities, food trucks, and a big fireworks finale. 

Hepler 

The annual Hepler Ruritan Rodeo returns for its 56th year on Friday, July 3, and Saturday, July 4. 

The URA, MRCA, and open rodeo are scheduled for 9 p.m. on July 3 followed by a dance with a live band from 10 p.m. to 1 a.m. The event continues on Saturday with a parade at 11 a.m. The themes for the parade are “stars and stripes” and “small town pride.” The cake walk starts at noon on Saturday along with kids’ games at 12:30 p.m. and the Hillbilly Games at 1 p.m. 

The URA, MRCA, and open rodeo commences at 8 p.m., featuring bareback riding, saddle bronc, steer wrestling, team roping, barrels, bull riding, over 40 roping, break-a-way roping, and ranch bronc riding. Other special events include mutton busting for kids on both nights, beginning at 7 p.m. 

The Hepler Ruritan Rodeo concludes with a fireworks display.

Arma 

On Saturday, July 4, the Arma community will hold its inaugural Fourth of July Picnic and Fireworks at Northeast High School. 

The event is scheduled to start at 7 p.m. with a picnic in the school’s parking lot. The fireworks are to follow the picnic. The first 100 people (or while supplies last) will receive free hot dogs and watermelon. 

Attendees are encouraged to bring their own lawn chairs.

Pittsburg 

The City of Pittsburg and the Pittsburg Parks and Recreation Department are planning to hold the longstanding Fourth of July celebration from 8 a.m. to dusk at Lincoln Park on Saturday, July 4. 

Events planned are an Independence Day parade (8 a.m.), fishing derby (8:30 to 10:30 a.m.), youth pickleball tournament (8 a.m.), adult pickleball tournament (8 a.m.), mini golf tournament (9 a.m. to noon), baby contest (10 a.m.), bocce tournament (10 a.m.), car show (10 a.m. to 1 p.m.), radio-controlled airplane demos (11 a.m. to 4 p.m.), cornhole tournament (noon), $1 swim day (1 to 5 p.m.), free youth disc golf clinic (1:45 p.m.), disc golf tournament (2 p.m.), live entertainment (6:30 to 10 p.m.), and fireworks display (10 p.m.). 

Additionally on the Fourth of July, Kiddieland is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and mini golf is open from noon to 4 p.m. 

For more information, call 620-231-8310 or visit pittks.org.

Frontenac 

Three weeks later, on Saturday, July 25, Camptown Events Center is planning to hold a “Million-Dollar Fireworks Festival” at 313 U.S. 69, to celebrate America’s 250th anniversary with music, fireworks, and more. 

For more information, visit camptownevents.com/upcoming-events/million-dollar-fireworks-festival/.

This reporting is made possible, in part, by the Support Local Journalism Project Fund. Learn more at: southeastkansas.org/Localnews.