With a trio of longstanding community celebrations planned for Saturday, area residents should again have plenty of opportunity to enjoy a patriotic Fourth of July.

Both Siloam and Ararat will be treated to morning Fourth of July parades, continuing community traditions of fellowship and fun for the entire family.

Ararat celebration

The sponsoring Ararat Volunteer Fire Department will kick off its Fourth of July Family Fun Day with a parade. Line-up will begin at 8 a.m. at the Blackwater United Methodist Church at the intersection of Ararat and Siloam roads. No preregistration is required and no entry fee will be charged.

“Anybody is welcome to take part,” Ararat VFD Chief Brian Parker said. “If you can push, pull or drag it, you’re welcome to enter it. We only ask that anybody who is going to ride an ATV keep it trailered going to the church and when they leave the fire station.”

The parade to the fire station will begin promptly at 9 a.m. Awards will be given for the most patriotic golf cart, most patriotic float, prettiest float and ugliest truck.

The parade is estimated to arrive between 9:30 to 9:45 a.m. with entertainment to begin at that point. The bluegrass band, Milestone, will be performing throughout the morning. Other activities will include a giant slide for youngsters along with a dunking booth, sand art and finger painting.

Several area civic and service organizations are scheduled to take part with funds going back into the community. The Ararat-Longhill Ruritan Club will be selling hot dogs while the fire department will raffle a gas grill and gas cards. The Ararat Masonic Lodge will be on hand with barbecue sandwiches and will be raffling a rifle. Several churches will also take part, providing concessions such as homemade ice cream along with other raffles and activities.

“And we’re still pulling some other things together,” Parker said. “We want to invite everybody to come out. We’re hoping this will be a big day.”

Siloam event

According to Brent Crissman, treasurer of the sponsoring Copeland Ruritan Club, this year’s Siloam event will begin at 9:30 a.m. with a community parade. Participants will make their way down Siloam Road to “The Square” for a variety of activities.

Line-up for this year’s parade will begin at 9 a.m. at Hardy Brothers Trucking. The parade is open to everyone and all types of entries including floats, horses, bicycles, classic cars and tractors. Participants will be allowed to disburse candy along the route.

Upon arrival at the square, the atmosphere will be that of an old-fashioned celebration with displays and activities for all ages combined with live music. An assortment of children’s games will also be offered.

Copeland Ruritans will be manning the grill to make available hot dogs accompanied by cold drinks. Dessert will again be offered by the Siloam Extension Homemakers. The group will also continue a tradition by offering a hand-crafted quilt for raffle.

Shoals to celebrate

The Shoals Ruritan will again serve as hosts for that community’s annual festivities, featuring an early evening parade followed by a full line-up of activities at the Shoals Community Recreation Center.

The celebration will begin with a parade from Fairview United Methodist Church to the center. Anyone wishing to participate should have their entry at the church no later than 5:30 p.m. There is no fee for participation and pre-registration is not required.

The parade will begin at 6 p.m., making its way down Shoals Road to the recreation center. There, the featured activity will be a patriotic ceremony recognizing veterans from the area for their service.

As in past years, those attending will also be treated to free hot dogs and drinks, courtesy of the Ruritan club. The food will be accompanied by live bluegrass music, while an assortment of games will be held for youngsters.

The evening will conclude with a large fireworks display, scheduled to begin just after nightfall.