Area Independence Day events

The Marshall Municipal Band will perform before fireworks displays Thursday, July 3, and Friday, July 4, as part of Marshall's Independence Day festivities.

The band's July 3 concert will begin at 8 p.m. at the Bell Tower Pavilion at Marshall Habilitation Center. The public is invited to attend the show with firework display to follow at 9 p.m.

The Ice Cream Social at MHC will begin at 4:30 p.m. July 3 and serve until 8 p.m. Foods include hot dogs, hamburgers, chips, drinks, cake and of course, ice cream.

Alcoholic beverages are not allowed; visitors are asked not to bring personal fireworks on the MHC campus. Designated parking will be available, so visitors are asked not to park on the street.

On July 4, MMB will strike up the band in the parking lot above the Lyon Bowl in Indian Foothills Park, next to the Kiddie Park.

A firework display will also follow this concert when the sun goes down.

Slater

Slater Only Way Fishing Club will hold a fishing contest from 10 a.m. to noon on Friday, July 4, at Slater Lake.

The annual fireworks display will start at 9:30 p.m. and everyone is invited to watch.

Sweet Springs

The Sweet Springs Fire Department annual 4th of July barbecue will begin at 11 a.m. and run until meat supply is exhausted.

Fireworks display will be held at dark at Sweet Springs High School.

Sweet Springs Optimist will have games for kids and concessions at 5 p.m. Friday, July 4, in Sweet Springs City Park.

At 6:30, Xi Eta Epsilon sorority will be selling pies for $1 a slice.

The Little Miss Liberty and Little Uncle Sam Contest for children up to 10 years old will be held at 7 p.m. in the park. Entries and description must be returned to Tina Reid at American Family Insurance, located at 310 North Locust, Sweet Springs, by 5 p.m. Thursday, July 3.

Arrow Rock

Candidates for statewide political office have been invited to participate in some old-fashioned stump speaking in Arrow Rock at 5 p.m. Saturday, July 5, on the Old Tavern lawn.

The event is free and open to the public. Attendees are encouraged to bring lawn chairs or blankets.

Arrow Rock's annual July 4th "impromptu" parade has been a tradition in the village of 79 people for more than 20 years. It takes place every Independence Day at 1 p.m. and, as the name implies, there is little organization, no entry fee and no prizes.

All parade participants are invited to gather at the west end of Main Street near the Old School House at 12:45 p.m., and at 1 p.m. they will march to the east end, led by the Arrow Rock Fire Department and the DAR color guard carrying a hand-crocheted American flag.

Visitors to the village are encouraged to take in the matinee production of "West Side Story" at the Lyceum Theatre. Call 660-837-3311 for tickets for the 2 p.m. show of this professional Broadway-caliber theatre.