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Seneca, Mo. —
Brand new flags went up last week along Cherokee Avenue in Seneca in preparation for this year’s Celebrating our Freedom event, to be held Saturday.
The celebration includes a 5K run, parade, talent show, live music and a 20-minute plus firework display choreographed to music and the 25 new flags are just part of the hours of preparation that make the annual event a success.
“If everything goes right we’re hoping to put a day’s event video together with just different clips of things going on and that will be posted to the website following the Fourth,” said organizer Mike Steele.
The video will let Senecans who moved away or missed the celebration keep track of the events, Steele said, but the day is fun for everyone with a hometown USA atmosphere.
“This is the hometown, small town atmosphere,” Steele said. “It’s a getaway from the hustle and bustle. It’s more neighbors and friends gathering to have fun and everybody who comes you fit right in, just one of the group.”
Typically 2,500 people line the streets for the parade, which he estimates will have more than 70 entries this year. This year’s route rolls down Cherokee Avenue from its starting point behind the high school and down old Highway 60. Parade check-in begins at 8:30 a.m. at the high school. Judging takes place at line up and all entries must be in place by 9 a.m. to be judged for first, second and third trophies and cash prizes and a best-in-show car trophy. Winners will be announced and awards presented as floats and cars pass the Cherokee Ave. and Delaware Street grandstand during the parade.
The parade is a big attraction year after year, but the day actually begins with a 5K USA Track and Field-certified course fun run. Late registration starts at 6:15 a.m. at the middle school. Check-in begins at 6:30 a.m. at Seneca Middle School and the race starts at 7 a.m. Medals will be awarded for first, second and third place in each division and the first 50 entries receive a T-shirt. A portion of the proceeds will go toward the Joplin tornado relief effort.
After the parade, youngsters head to City Park, where they fish in Little Lost Creek or the junior high to work out a little energy at the kids’ games there.
At noon, the silly sevens in 2011-themed quacky economy duck race kicks off.
Brand new flags went up last week along Cherokee Avenue in Seneca in preparation for this year’s Celebrating our Freedom event, to be held Saturday.
The celebration includes a 5K run, parade, talent show, live music and a 20-minute plus firework display choreographed to music and the 25 new flags are just part of the hours of preparation that make the annual event a success.
“If everything goes right we’re hoping to put a day’s event video together with just different clips of things going on and that will be posted to the website following the Fourth,” said organizer Mike Steele.
The video will let Senecans who moved away or missed the celebration keep track of the events, Steele said, but the day is fun for everyone with a hometown USA atmosphere.
“This is the hometown, small town atmosphere,” Steele said. “It’s a getaway from the hustle and bustle. It’s more neighbors and friends gathering to have fun and everybody who comes you fit right in, just one of the group.”
Typically 2,500 people line the streets for the parade, which he estimates will have more than 70 entries this year. This year’s route rolls down Cherokee Avenue from its starting point behind the high school and down old Highway 60. Parade check-in begins at 8:30 a.m. at the high school. Judging takes place at line up and all entries must be in place by 9 a.m. to be judged for first, second and third trophies and cash prizes and a best-in-show car trophy. Winners will be announced and awards presented as floats and cars pass the Cherokee Ave. and Delaware Street grandstand during the parade.
The parade is a big attraction year after year, but the day actually begins with a 5K USA Track and Field-certified course fun run. Late registration starts at 6:15 a.m. at the middle school. Check-in begins at 6:30 a.m. at Seneca Middle School and the race starts at 7 a.m. Medals will be awarded for first, second and third place in each division and the first 50 entries receive a T-shirt. A portion of the proceeds will go toward the Joplin tornado relief effort.
After the parade, youngsters head to City Park, where they fish in Little Lost Creek or the junior high to work out a little energy at the kids’ games there.
At noon, the silly sevens in 2011-themed quacky economy duck race kicks off.
Ducks are $3 each or, in a riff on gas prices, two for $5.999 and the cashier does not carry change. The lucky first place duck wins $277.11, the last place duck $111.77 and a pluck-a-duck winner takes home $77.11.
“With the economy the way it is we were trying to use all the lucky numbers we can think of,” Steele joked.
At 1:30 p.m. a new event, the Seneca’s Got Talent showcase, starts in the old Seneca High School gymnasium. Registration is $20 and is completed online. Five minute talents can include: singing, instrumental performances, juggling or magic. Judges will award a $150 first place, $50 second place and $25 third place prize, but participants must sign in an hour before the show for a briefing and sound check. Phillip Mitchell of KSN will emcee the event and part of the proceeds will benefit the Seneca Choir as a fundraiser.
The Bethel Road and Route U fireworks site opens at 4 p.m. and a speed saw contest opens with the gates. It will have four divisions with cash prizes for first place. Contestants will race against each other to carve up the logs and move up in the bracket.
“It ought to be interesting because these are going to be big chainsaws, these are going to be 42-inch chainsaw. They’ll be big monsters,” Steele said. “It will be loud, it will be crazy and these guys will take it to heart because that’s what they do for a living.”
Live music starts at 6:30 p.m. with a couple of local artists: Neosho performers Sarah Dunn and Sundown and Carthage’s Clover Road. Fireworks go off at 9:45 p.m.
To enter the fireworks site, there will be a $5 parking fee or $1 walk-in fee. A portion of those proceeds go to next year’s event and a donation will be made to the Seneca FFA for their help in putting on the annual event.
The event-packed day is a good way to celebrate freedom and the Fourth, Steele said. “It’s a longstanding tradition here in Seneca,” he said.
