Carthage is hosting a full day of events for its annual Red, White and Boom Festival, starting with the annual 5K Run and 1-mile fun walk Friday morning.
It will start at 2000 Richard Webster Drive in Municipal Park with the starting gun at 7 a.m. People will be at Municipal Park starting at 6 a.m. check-in.
Participants can register for the race at https://run signup.com/Race/MO/Carthage/BoomRun. Registration ends at midnight Thursday. The cost for the 5K and fun walk is $35 per person.
Melissa Little, Carthage’s tourism director, said the Red White and Boom Golf Tournament will start at 8 a.m. at the Municipal Golf Course.
“We’ve been told the participants will dress up in patriotic gear,” Little said. “They’ll be finished by 2 p.m.”
Little said there will be free swimming at the Municipal Park swimming pool from noon-8 p.m. and free rides at the Kiwanis Club’s Kiddieland amusement park.
Food truck vendors and inflatable bounce houses will set up from 5-9 p.m., and ice-cold watermelon will be served by Carthage firefighters at 7 p.m.
Fireworks are scheduled to start at 9:30 p.m. with patriotic music to accompany it provided on radio station 95.1 FM.
Carl Junction
Carl Junction will host its annual Independence Day parade for children and adults at 10 a.m. Friday. Parade participants will start lining up at 8:30 a.m. Friday at the intersection of Pennell and Broadway between the schools.
Judging will be held at 9:15 a.m., and there will be a variety of prizes for children and adults, including most patriotic firecracker on wheels for children, most patriotic pet and best decorated golf cart.
Winners will be announced outside the Carl Junction Community Center following the parade, and winners must be present to claim prizes.
The route will run down Broadway, turn left at Wells Street and left again at Main Street to the Carl Junction Community Center.
A party for children to decorate their bicycles, tricycles, strollers and other means of transportation in an Independence Day theme will be held from 6:30-8 p.m. Thursday at The Well UMC church, 601 W. Well St.
Seneca
Seneca’s Old-Time Fourth of July Celebration kicks off with a 5K at 7 a.m., starting in front of the Iva Wells Middle School, 925 Oneida St.
There will be a parade at 10 a.m. on Main Street, games in the park for children starting at 11 a.m., a pie auction at 11:30 a.m., and an old-fashioned tug-of-war in the city park at 1 p.m.
Fireworks begin at dusk in the city park.
Webb CityA fireworks show in Webb City will be held Friday at the Red Door Barn, 9164 Missouri Highway 43. It starts at 8 p.m. The show is free, but donations will be accepted. The event is being held by Sam Smith and Bill and Sam’s Backyard Fireworks.