Summerville's big Fourth

Hot dogs, parade and fireworks offered

What says Fourth of July more than hot dogs, a parade and fireworks?

Summerville's Red, White and Blue on the Green from 4 to 7 p.m. Friday at town square, will offer all three — and more.

The annual old-fashioned, family-focused Independence Day celebration will feature music, food, a fun parade for carriages, bicycles, tricycles, wagons and pets, plus games, contests, patriotic face painting, jump castles, prizes and apple pie. The event will be capped by an evening of spectacular fireworks, Jami Sheppard, executive director of Summerville DREAM (Downtown Restoration, Enhancement and Management), said.

Sheppard said revelers will not only consume hot dogs, they will honor the all-American food by holding a hot dog eating contest and naming the winner of the Quest for Official Summerville Fourth of July Hotdog. The big announcement will come at 6 p.m., and the winning hot dog will be featured on the menu at P-Dogs located at 119 West Doty Ave.

Other contests include watermelon eating, water balloon tossing and seed spittin' competitions.

Activities for people of all ages will be provided. Live music will be provided by the Howle Brothers, and dunking booths will feature local celebrities. Proceeds from the many concession stands will benefit Downtown Summerville.

Registration for the non-motorized parade begins at 4 p.m. and the parade, led by grand marshal Mayor Berlin G. Myers, will begin at 6:30 p.m.

Parade participants are asked to bring their patriotically decorated little red wagons, carriages, roller blades, bicycles, tricycles and anything else non-motorized as well as themselves and their pets, Prizes will be awarded for most patriotic, most original and most patriotic pet.

Sheppard promised an amazing fireworks display will take place at the Gahagan Sports Complex, at 515 West Boundary St. Concessions and music will begin at 7 p.m. and the fireworks show will begin at 9 p.m. The public is encouraged to bring beach blankets or lawn chairs. Coolers or alcoholic beverages are not permitted.

To get to the Red, White and Blue on the Green Celebration, take Interstate 26 to Hwy. 17A South, head into Summerville for about 4.5 miles, where you will see town square, officially known as Hutchinson Square, in the downtown business district.

For more information, contact Summerville DREAM at 821-7260 or e-mail Katie DePoppe, event chair, at katie.depoppe@gmail.com.

Summerville DREAM is a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the quality of life in Summerville by enhancing the aesthetic, cultural, social and economic aspects of the downtown area.

Reach Edward C. Fennell at efennell@postandcourier.com or 745-5865.