By Devynn Barnes
Red, white and blue stars will explode against a black sky in Lions Park. Down below, more than 14,000 pairs of eyes will gaze at the bursts of colors.
Music, food, fun and games will fill the park, where families can spend the day coming together to celebrate America’s independence.
It’s finally time for the annual Lions Club July Fourth celebration, and according to the members of the Zionsville Lions Club, this year’s festivities will be ones no one will want to miss.
“This year’s traditional Fourth of July Celebration looks to be larger than ever before, with fireworks, entertainment, and family fun activities for all ages,” said former president of the Lions Club and current public relations representative for the July Fourth celebration Leigh Ann Akard.
In addition to the Lions Club, Akard said this is the first year that the Leos Club, the junior Lions Club for Zionsville, will be in the park as well. The Leos Club, made up of kids from ages 12 to 18, does different projects supporting the Lions Club around Zionsville. This year, they will be selling snow cones, glow sticks, and raffle tickets.
The raffle tickets that can be purchased from the Leos Club or from members of the Lions Club are entered for the chance to win a brand new Weber Grill package valued at $800, or $500 cash. The winner gets to choose. This prize package is a new idea from the Lions Club. All proceeds go towards park updates and improvements around Lions Park.
Newly elected president of the Zionsville Lions Club, Mike Hefner, said he has a lot to look forward to about his first July Fourth as president.
“[I will be] getting there early to help set up and then watching the park fill up all day, grabbing a quick bite to eat from one of our great food vendors, watching the kids dance in the gazebo to the tunes by the DJ, and of course those tremendous fireworks to cap off the night,” Heffner said.
While nearly all members of the Lions Club will be in attendance to help out with the event, Steve Gayheart, the July Fourth event chair, is the real man in charge.
Gayheart is on the board of directors for the Lions Club and is looking forward to putting on a show with this years’ events.
“The park will be packed,” he said.
The fireworks begin at 10 p.m., but the park will open 5 p.m. with plenty of activities to keep families busy until dark. There will be moonwalks, clowns, face painting, watermelon-eating contests, three-legged races and more for the kids, complete with prizes for winners.
At 6 p.m. bands will begin playing inside the gazebo. Later in the night, the winners of Miss Indiana and Miss Indiana Outstanding Teen are expected to take the stage to preform their talents. Autograph signings will follow both of their performances.
This community event is free, however in-park parking is $5. The Fourth of July celebration is the second largest fundraiser for the Lions Club, and according to its organizers it never fails to be full of family fun.
Lions Park
115 S Elm Street
For more details visit www.zionsvillelions.com or email Akard at to [email protected].
