Picnic in the Park

Celebrate Orange will present the sixth annual patriotic Picnic in the Park community celebration at Booster Park Saturday, July 4. Gates open at 4:30 p.m. and musical entertainment will begin at 5:30 p.m. Admission is free and there is a $5 per car parking fee. This small fee helps pay for the rental of Booster Park and for fireworks and other expenses. Parking assistance will again be provided by the Virginia Defense Force, so getting in and out will not be difficult.
Patriotic music presented by the Orange Community Band and by the Orange Community Chorus will please all ages. In addition, Lyle Sanford’s Kenwood Players will feature a banjo and guitar lead blended with a small instrumental ensemble and familiar vocals.
A children’s moon bounce and slide will be a big hit as will the directed children’s games and activities as follows:
Children age three to six years old can build their own stick horse from 4:30 to 6 p.m. Sack races will be held from 5:30 to 6 p.m. for seven to 11-year-olds. Youngsters aged 12 and up can compete in a watermelon seed spitting contest from 6 to 6:30 p.m. Stick horses, whether built or bought at the event, or brought from home will race with their three to six-year-old “jockeys” beginning at 6:30 pm.
Food, drink, and dessert vendors, including Tarheel Pig Pickers BBQ and Double D ice cream, will be there to keep event goers well-fed. Other vendors will sell baked goods, fried chicken, hot dogs, popcorn, and soft drinks. Families may also bring their own picnic supper. Be sure to bring blankets and chairs. No alcoholic beverages are allowed so that we can count on a safe and friendly family atmosphere.
Outstanding fireworks will commence at 9:30 p.m., presented by Dominion Fireworks of Petersburg. Parking on the road to watch is discouraged, both for safety reasons and because this deprives Celebrate Orange of needed revenue to be financially able to present this event and Music On Main Street New Year’s Eve.
Please call 672-1794 for information. The rain date is July 5, but it will not rain!

Celebrate Orange
Picnic in the Park schedule

4:30 p.m.
Gates open
4:30-6:00
Children ages 3-6 build stick horses, Moon Bounce opens
5:30-6:00
Children’s games—-sack races, ages 7-11
6:00-6:30
Watermelon seed-spitting contest, ages 12 and older
6:15-6:45
K-9 demonstration-Orange County Sheriff’s Dept.
6:30 p.m.
Stick horse races (built, brought, or bought), ages 3-6
6:45-7:15
Kenwood Players Concert
7:15-7:30
Skydive Orange Drop-in
7:30-7:45
Welcome, Invocation, Presentation of Colors, Pledge of Allegiance, National Anthem, Posting of colors
Orange Community Chorus Concert with patriotic music Director, Albert Packard
8:00-9:00
Orange Community Band Concert Director, Dr. Robert Hamrick
9:00-9:30
Kenwood Players Concert featuring Lyle Sanford on banjo
9:30-9:45
Fireworks