Peabody's Fourth Fest offers fun for family
One spot for a great outdoor experience this week will be on Friday at the Peabody City Park. Preparation for the 82nd annual July Fourth celebration is in full swing as the community gears up to welcome thousands of visitors from around the area.
The traditional fireworks extravaganza is a crowd pleaser and is tailored to families.
It will be the culmination of months of planning by the Peabody Fourth Fest Society. The show starts at 9:45 Friday night.
Society members promise new set pieces as well as many of the old favorites such as Niagara Falls and the Battle of New Orleans. Admission is the purchase of a $2 button (the price goes up to $3 on July Fourth). Merchants in Peabody, Marion, Florence, Hillsboro, and Walton are selling buttons this week.
Preceding the fireworks show will be musical entertainment by the "Madhatters." The band's performance begins at 6 p.m. on the football field at the park. They will play until 9 p.m.
Entertainment for children will be provided by Celebrations, a company with inflatable recreation equipment. They will be set up in the park from 5 to 9 p.m.
The Fourth Fest button will get you into the park, but tickets are needed for the inflatable amusements.
The park will be open to families who wish to spend the day picnicking, swimming at the pool, and just relaxing. The shelter houses and picnic tables are offered on a first-come, first-served basis and cars are not allowed inside the park on the Fourth.
The day includes the Kiwanis Flea Market from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., a horseshoe tournament beginning at 8 a.m., and kids' games (triathlon, hot-shot basketball shooting contest, water games, and a mud tug-of-war). These will be from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m.
There also will be a dog show at 10:30 a.m. just south of the main gate of the park.
Vendors and a food court will be set up in the park during the day.
The annual parade will begin at 5 p.m. at Peabody-Burns High School and travel south down Walnut to Second then west to the park.
Other events for the weekend are the Peabody Alumni Street Dance downtown from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. Thursday and a softball tournament at the city park on Saturday.
It is legal to shoot fireworks in the city of Peabody as long as you are on private property and have permission from the owner/landlord. Fireworks may not be shot in close proximity to fireworks stands or in the park.
Peabody Historical Society will be selling fireworks at 9th and Peabody streets across from Harder Ag Products from July 1 to 4. Proceeds from the sale will go to support the museum complex and local historical projects.
Plan to bring your family and spend the day in Peabody. There will be plenty of outdoor activities for everyone to enjoy.
