4th of July in the Ozarks

July is known to some as the “month of grilling”.  To others, it’s a chance to “blow” through a couple hundred dollars’ worth of fireworks and take your spot in the neighborhood as the “firework champion”.  In Southwest Missouri, thanks to an overly rainy Spring/Summer, our rivers are still float-worthy, so maybe you’ll kick back on a canoe or a kayak with a few friends.

However you choose to spend it, there are so many ways to celebrate our nation’s Independence Day locally that the trouble will likely be how you choose your day of fun….but for easy reference, here’s a “Top 10” list of local 4^th of July “happenings” you may not want to miss!

• Springfield: Monday, July 4^th 6-10 p.m. Life360 Freedom Fest @ the Ozarks Empire Fairgrounds; free admission
• Springfield: Monday, July 4^th @ 10 a.m. “Midtown Neighborhood Assn Old Fashioned Fourth of July Parade & Celebration”; a parade and more with an “old fashioned” picnic feel, games and food; parade begins at Central High School and ends at Washington Park
• Marshfield: Monday, July 4^th “137^th Marshfield Independence Day Parade”, begins at 10 a.m.; vendors, games, activities from 10-3, Marshfield town square
• Republic: Friday, July 1^st “20^th Annual Have-A-Blast Patriotic Celebration”; opens at 6 p.m. at JR Martin Park; free admission; private vendors with food, activities, face painting, balloon art, pony rides, inflatables, skydiving exhibition; fireworks approx.. 9:50 p.m.
• Mount Vernon: Friday, July 1^st “Red, White and Boom”, located at Spirit of 76 Park; free activities including the city pool from 4-6 p.m.; free laser tag from 6-9 p.m.; concessions open from 6:30-9 p.m.; fireworks at 9:30 p.m.; bring lawn chairs and/or blankets
• Bolivar: Monday, July 4^th “Bolivar Rotary’s Celebration of Freedom”, begins at 5:40 p.m. at SBU and includes a community picnic with food for purchase, entertainment and recognition of veterans; fireworks at 9:20 p.m. or dusk
• Branson: Sunday, July 3^rd at the Branson Landing “9^th Annual Liberty Light Up” concert with Journey tribute band; fireworks display follows over Lake Taneycomo

However you enjoy our nation’s independence, we wish you a blessed holiday from all of the Team at Insurance Group of the Ozarks!

Leah Callahan