Local towns celebrate July 4

Several towns in southeast Iowa are celebrating Independence Day with a ?bang.? Some are shooting off fireworks while others are holding concerts and parades.

The city of Washington is partnering with Just Cause to provide fireworks at the fairgrounds on July 4. The fireworks will start at dark. They are also providing a ?free swim? at the Steele Family Aquatic Center from 2 to 6 p.m. that day. That means the pool will be free and open to anyone who seeks relief from the heat, which is expected to be in the 90s.

The organizers are hoping to avoid a repeat of 2010, when heavy rains nearly derailed the event and forced a postponement. In the end, the people who stayed until dark were treated with a colorful fireworks show.

Wayland is having a big celebration July 3 and July 4. The events start Tuesday with family fun activities at West Park from 6 to 8 p.m. There will be free hot dogs and chips. There will also be beverages for sale, the proceeds of which will go to the WACO Backpack Program.

The evening will feature an inflatable jumping castle for kids, three-legged races, a rubber chicken toss, an Oreo cookie stacking contest and a ?guess-your-weight? game at the Old Lodge Safe.

Jake McVey will perform live music at the park. In case of rain, the concert will be at the WACO High School Gym.

Wayland?s parade is at 10:30 a.m. on Main Street. The lineup for the parade begins at 9:30. The rest of the day will include activities such as fresh wow lemon shakes, a community appreciation lunch, firefighter water fights, tractors on display and tractor games.

The fireworks start at dusk at the WACO football field.  

The Shiloh Church will put on a fireworks display Tuesday, July 3 at 9 p.m. at the Shiloh Amphitheater, located at 100 Shiloh Drive just south of Kalona. Live music starts at 5 p.m. and continues throughout the evening.