If you still like an old-fashioned 4th of July celebration, then the town of Wellman is the place to be. Even if it is July 5.

With the 4th of July holiday celebrated the 5th due to the 4th falling on a Sunday, Wellman’s annual celebration moves to Monday as well. A large variety of activities are planned for all ages.

Parade/Fireworks

As is usual, the biggest parts of the celebration are the parade and the fireworks.

The main parade is set for 10 a.m. Don Randol (646-2207) is in charge of entries.

Fourth of July spokesman Shawn Powell is hoping the parade will run two hours again this year.

The annual fireworks display is slated to begin at 9:30 p.m. on the golf course grounds. Wellman Fire Department Chief Jim Seward and members of the department who are certified in pyrotechnics will shoot off the display.

This year’s display, which Powell hopes will be one of the largest to date, is being sponsored by the Wellman Fire Department, the Wellman Lions Club, the Wellman Rotary Club and the Wellman Community Club.

New events

Powell and the Community Club have added some new events to this year’s celebration. Among those is the return of the State Fair Singers.

The group, which appeared at the celebration two years ago with Mid-Prairie High School student Collette Conway, will appear once again in the Wellman Bandshell in North Park. The performance will run from 6:30-8:30 p.m. In case of rain, the group will perform in the Mid-Prairie High School auditorium.

Several local businesses are sponsoring the two-hour performance. Wellman Federal Savings, US Bank of Wellman, Hills Bank Kalona and the Wellman Community Club are gold sponsors, while Farmers Savings Bank is a silver sponsor.

Another new event is golf trick shot artist Joey O. Sponsored by the Wellman Rotary Club, he will appear at the Wellman Golf Course, beginning at 2:30 p.m. There is no admission for his presentation.

Dwight Duwa and Duwa’s Auction Service will be replacing the former bed racing competition with a nail-driving contest. Interested participants can meet downtown after the main parade or call Duwa at 646-6775 for more information.

A kids carnival will be returning to the North Park as well. Beginning at 1 p.m., coordinator Terri Adkins will be providing children with several games and contests, including a duck pond, dart balloon toss and ping pong toss. Prizes will be awarded at the carnival as well.

Other events

Highlighting the rest of the day will be the Wellman Lions Club’s annual Demo Derby in the south park (2 p.m.). The derby is being sponsored by Buckwalter Motors, Gretter Motors and Capper Ford.

Also on the docket are a full slate of youth baseball and softball games on the North Park diamonds (see section B for more information), the annual bingo game in the North Park shelter (beginning at 1 p.m.), the dunk tank in the North Park, the three-on-three basketball and sand volleyball tournaments, a pie in the face auction, historical display and kiddie parade.

Dunk tank participants

The Mid-Prairie Music Boosters will be in charge of this year’s dunk tank at the Wellman 4th of July celebration on July 5th.

The tank will open at 1 p.m. in the North Park. Proceeds from the dunk tank will go toward funding a sound system at the high school theatre.

Times for dunkees are as follows:

1-1:15 p.m. - Mark Schneider;

1:15-1:30 p.m. - Heather Hervey;

1:30-1:45 p.m. - Jackie Beachy;

1:45-2 p.m. - David Kunz;

2-2:15 p.m. - Matt McClellen;

2:15-2:30 p.m. - Elliot Stapleton;

2:30-2:45 p.m. - Laurie Arieux;

2:45-3 p.m. - Phil Conaway;

3-3:15 p.m. - Tiffany Curtis;

3:15-3:30 p.m. - Gerry Beeler;

3:30-3:45 p.m. - Lacey Curtis;

3:45-4 p.m. - Tiffany Curtis;

4-4:15 p.m. - Natalie Bontrager;

4:15-4:30 p.m. - Keth Houseal;

4:30-4:45 p.m. - Troy Ruffin;

4:45-5 p.m. - Gary Curtis;

5-5:15 p.m. - Don Showalter;

5:15-5:30 p.m. - Jared Adam;

5:30-5:45 p.m. - Milo Young;

5:45-6 p.m. - David Blum;

6 p.m. on - Volunteers.