Orland's Big Fourth of July celebration

The town of  Orland is planning a big party Friday for the Fourth of  July, and everybody is invited.

There will be games, food, music and a car parade filled with patriotic themes and old-fashioned fun. The 33rd annual celebration takes place at Vinsonhaler Park.

The party starts at noon with the opening of food stands at the park featuring barbecued chicken dinners, hamburgers, hot dogs, homemade pie and ice cream, snow cones, soft drinks, lemonade and iced tea. Be ready to sample some good stuff in the tradition of a Fourth of  July picnic.

The afternoon event is sponsored by the Orland Historical and Cultural Society, and from 1,000 to 2,000 people are expected, according to event chair Joanne Overton.

Music will be provided at 1 p.m. by the Orland High School Band, led by director Butch Peterson, followed by ceremonies observing the day.

The Orland Veterans of Foreign Wars chapter will present the colors, and Judge Angus Saint-Evens is to lead the pledge of allegiance.

Shelly Rossi will sing the national anthem, and Mayor Vern Montague is scheduled to make a patriotic address.

Then songs of Americana will be performed by the Rossi’s Band.

At 1:30 p.m., the citizen of the year award is to be presented by Gene Russell, president of the Orland Historical and Cultural Society.

A parade of cars follows where vintage vehicles will roll through the park.

But the real games start at 2:30 p.m. with a number of contests and races set for young and old alike.

Saint-Evens and his wife, Trish, sponsor a number of contests such as the decorated hat contest, junior foot race, sack races and an egg toss.

“The egg toss gets bigger and bigger each year,” Trish Saint-Evens said, “We have to spread it out over a larger area.”

Competitors pair off with another person, she said, and each first-place winner receives a trophy.

The sack races have four divisions and awards for first through third place, Saint-Evens said.

“Angus and I have been doing the games for so many years I’ve lost count,” she said. “We’ve sponsored them at least 17 years. It is our way of giving back to the community.”

The hat decorating contest has prizes for first through third place, and the children’s division winners get trophies while the adults receive patriotic prizes, she said.

She added the junior foot race is open to toddlers and kids up to six years old. It is something special they can participate in. They run at most 100 yards and all kids get a prize at the finish line. They can choose from paddle balls, patriotic teddy bears and yo-yos.

Entry for all of the Saint-Evens sponsored games is free, she said.

The Orland Kiwanis are sponsoring a decorated bike contest while the Soroptomists are holding a live decorated pet contest.

The games end at 3:30 with a frog jumping contest sponsored by the Lambda Iota chapter of Beta Sigma Phi. The picnic ends at 5 p.m.

Schedule

Orland’s 33rd Fourth of  July Vinsonhaler Park

Noon
Food concessions and games open
Barbecued chicken dinner and drinks – Eagles
Hamburger, hot dogs and drinks – Moose
Homemade pie, ice cream, lemonade, iced tea – Orland Historical and Cultural Society
Snow cones and treats – Republican Women
Children’s games – Federated Church

1 p.m.
Orland High School Band – Directed by Butch Peterson
Presentation of colors – Orland’s Veterans of Foreign Wars
Pledge of allegiance – Judge Angus Saint-Evens
National anthem – Shelly Rossi
Welcome – Joanne Overton – event chair
Band
Patriotic Address –Orland Mayor Vern Montague
Songs Americana – The Rossi’s Band

1:30 p.m.
Citizen of the Year Award – Gene Russell, OHCS president
Band – Recognize veterans
Parade of cars – Ed Fairlee and Anthony Matteucci

2:30 p.m.
Band
Decorated hat contest –Saint-Evens family
Decorated live pet contest – Soroptimists
Decorated bike contest – Kiwanis
Junior foot race –Saint-Evens family
Sack races – Saint-Evens family
Egg toss – Saint-Evens family

3:30 p.m.
Frog jumping contest – Lambda Iota chapter Beta Sigma Phi

5 p.m.
Event ends