Fun coming to downtown on the Fourth

Photo courtesy of the Main Street Cultural District

By Tom Drenthe
Main Street Cultural District

(June 28, 2011) Fourth of July in downtown Ames is going to be a fun for everyone. Free pancakes, a talent show, a parade where kids can ride decorated bikes and a festival will offer hours of fun on Monday, July 4.

All Ames children are invited to be in the Ames “old-fashioned, flag-waving” Fourth of July Parade as bike riders on safety-checked and decorated bikes. The parade will begin Monday at 11 a.m. with children decorating bikes and getting safety checks beginning at 9:45 a.m. in front of the Ames City Hall.

Ronn Ritz, the owner of Skunk River Cycles, 308 Main Street, will be on hand for the sixth year in a row to do the bicycle safety checks. While there is no charge to participate, every participant must have a parent or guardian present to sign an entry release form. There will also be complimentary red, white and blue supplies to decorate the bikes. All the bike riders will be directed to line up in the City Parking lot west of City Hall and on Main Street west of Clark Avenue, and will ride through the entire parade route.

The Grand Marshal of the 2011 4th of July Parade will be Iowa State University President Gregory Geoffroy.

Other parade and festival events include:

• The City Council’s pancake breakfast on Clark Avenue in front of City Hall from 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.
• The Bill Riley Talent Search will be located at the corner of Main Street and Burnett and will run from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.
• The parade featuring a number of local entries at 11 .m.
• A green-themed festival filled with games, music, children’s activities, live performances, demonstrations, inflatables, a fire safety house and delicious food on Burnett Avenue, Main Street and in Tom Evans Plaza immediately following the parade.

Volunteers still needed
The Fourth of July festivities also offer residents a chance to give back to the community without missing out on the fun.  Volunteers are still needed to:

• Watch barricades in the parade staging area and along the parade route. (9 a.m. to 11 a.m. or 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.)
• Help clean up parade and festival area (Approximately 3 to 5 p.m.)

To volunteer, e-mail events@mainstreetculturaldistrict.com or call 233-3472.

The Fourth of July festival sponsors are City of Ames Electric Services, AmesNewsOnline.com and the Ames Bulletin Board. Parade sponsors are First National Bank, Hy-Vee Drugstore and Iowa State University. The Fourth of July Parade and Festival is also supported by the Ames Community Grant Program.