Three cheers for the red, white and blue

As the heat reminds Creston that summer is here, some of the city’s biggest summer events are kicking off. 2024 marks the 76th annual 4th of July celebration put on by the 10,000 Crestonians, this year celebrated under the title “Three Cheers for Red, White and Blue.”

Events start Friday, June 28, and run through Thursday, July 4. More information on Creston’s July 4 celebrations can be found in Friday’s special Independence Day insert.

A few areas will be open throughout the week. The Creston Arts Gallery, located inside the Restored Depot, will be open from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Friday, Sunday and Tuesday, and from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Thursday.

The Historical Village, found at McKinley Park, will be open to visitors from 1 to 4:30 p.m. on Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Thursday.

Creston Arts will be working to “chalk the town” all weekend. Look out for murals around town created by a variety of volunteer artists.

Friday, June 28, kicks off the festivities in the morning with a Veteran’s Appreciation Breakfast, running from 7 to 8:30 a.m. at the mealsite in the Restored Depot.

Later in the evening, Creston service clubs Kiwanis, Lions and Rotary will come together to host The Big Barbeque Bash. Food will be served at McKinley Park from 4 to 8 p.m., with tickets costing $10.

This week’s Fridays After Five will be hosted at McKinley Park, with band Ridin’ Shotgun playing, starting at 5:08 p.m. The business sponsors are American Family Insurance and Our Town Realty, and the non-profit benefiting is Creston Parks and Recreation.

KSIB will also be hosting their annual Cruise Night Car Show at McKinley Park, running from 5 to 7 p.m. There will be participant voting for best of show.

Saturday, June 29, starts off with the Greater 8 and 5K Run/Walk, which benefits the High Lakes Trails. The 8 mile race starts at 7:30 a.m. and the 5K starts at 8 a.m. from McKinley Park.

The tractor show parade will run from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and a cornhole tournament will start at 1 p.m., both hosted at McKinley Park.

The 18th annual Party in the Park is Saturday, June 29, at the McKinley Park bandshell. SJ McDonald will start off the party at 7 p.m., with the i-Berrys to follow. The gates open at 6 p.m. Tickets are $15 in advance or $20 at the gate, and are nonrefundable. In case of rain, McDonald will perform at the Creston Eagles Club, entry available with a Party in the Park ticket. You must be 16 or older to enter.

Sunday, June 30, will hold the Sand Volleyball Tournament, starting at 11 a.m, at Taylor Park.

Wednesday, July 3, will be the first day of the Friends of the Library’s Scholastic Book Fair. The book fair will be open from 2:30 to 5:30 p.m. at the mealsite in the Restored Depot. The library will host a children’s outdoor “Messtival” from 10 a.m. to noon. Aimed at children ages 2 through 10, families should be prepared for a festival of mess, including paint, mud and more. The Elk’s Lodge will host a dance from 8:30 p.m. until midnight.

Thursday, July 4, will host the most events. The flea market will be open uptown from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The book sale will continue, open from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. The Caboose on Adams Street will be open from 9 a.m. to noon, and the model railroaders will be sharing their pieces in the Restored Depot from 9 a.m. to noon.

The 10,000 Crestonians 4th of July Parade will go through uptown, starting at 10 a.m., with an Elks cookout and beer garden immediately following. This year’s parade route differs from the normal route due to building renovations on the 100 block of West Montgomery Street. The route begins at the corner of Mills and Pine streets and proceeds west on Mills Street to Elm Street. From there, the parade will turn south to Montgomery Street, where it will then turn west and proceed to Division Street. There it will turn south to Adams Street and then east on Adams Street to Walnut Street.

The Lion’s Club will host bingo at McKinley Park from 1 to 9 p.m. Creston’s Boy Scouts will join the VFW for a flag retirement ceremony in McKinley Park at 5:30 p.m.

Later in the night, the Bill Riley and Creston Talent Show will start at 6:30 p.m. at the bandshell in McKinley Park. The firework display, created by Top Notch Fireworks, will start at McKinley Park at 9:30 p.m.