By Jason Klaiber
Staff Writer
For the 40th year in a row, the Village of Manlius will host its Fourth of July celebration on this coming holiday.
The around-the-clock festivities on Thursday will start with a bike-decorating contest, to be held at 9:30 a.m. near the swan pond in the village centre.
Contest participants will earn prizes based on their ability to restyle their bicycles and tricycles in impressive, patriotic and original ways.
The annual parade, beginning at 10 a.m., will run from Seneca Street to Stickley Drive and circle back to the village centre. The grand marshal for this year’s parade will be William Nickel, a retired Manlius firefighter.
The day’s live musical entertainment will kick off at 12:30 p.m. with a performance from DownBeat Percussion at the Village Ampitheatre.
The Jess Novak Band will follow at 2 in the afternoon, and Tink Bennett & Tailor Made will later hit the stage at 4.
David and Paul Jackman, billed as The Twin Magicians, will start their act at 5 in the evening.
At 7, Letizia and the Z-Band will hit the stage.
From 2 to 5 p.m. the village will hold a cornhole tournament in the softball and soccer fields.
Entrance into the tournament costs $30 for each pair of competitors until the end of July 3. This price will be bumped up $10 on July 4.
Around dusk, the firework display put on by retailer American Fireworks will begin.
According to Judy Salamone, the coordinator of the village’s Fourth of July festivities, the firework show will last approximately 35 to 40 minutes. She said the display typically draws between 8,000 and 10,000 people each year.
In the midst of the live entertainment and organized activities, vendors will be selling food such as hamburgers, hot dogs and pizza as well as refreshments.
For $12, event attendees can be treated to a plate of chicken with two sides courtesy of Scotty’s House of BBQ.
Other businesspeople will display items such as jewelry for sale.
Wristbands permitting all-day, unlimited access to carnival rides can be purchased for $20 per person. These rides will be erected near the Manlius Library.
Tents will be propped up behind the ice cream stand Sno Top, providing cover in case of heavy rain.
The Town of Manlius Police Department will be on hand to ensure people leave the event in an orderly fashion.
“It’s a well-oiled machine as far as the Manlius Police Department making sure everybody gets out of there safely and very efficiently,” Salamone said.
Just this past month, media company PopSugar ranked Manlius’ Fourth of July celebration as the ninth best out of all the small towns in the country.
“We’re showcasing Americana at its best in the Village of Manlius,” Salamone said. “The Fourth of July is obviously a celebration of our nation, and we are a small part of that. We’re really proud to carry the tradition.”
