Sixth Picnic in the Park will be July 4

The skies above the Orange will be lit up July 4 thanks to Celebrate Orange’s sixth annual Picnic in the Park.
Picnic in the Park is the brainchild of Celebrate Orange Chairman Al Packard. Packard, who first came to Orange from Southhill to lead the choir at a local church, introduced the event six years ago. He had done a similar event in Southhill and decided to conduct it in Orange.
According to Celebrate Orange Secretary Bill Chapman, Picnic in the Park first started with the community chorus and band. Since then, its grown in leaps and bounds. Planning for the event begins in January, right after Music on Main Street, Celebrate Orange’s other annual event.
With a struggling economy, Celebrate Orange organizers were forced to change their fundraising approach. Instead of soliciting donations from individuals and businesses, the group focused on fundraising events to generate operating funds for this year’s Picnic in the Park.
“We held a spaghetti supper and Chicken and Chocolate,“ Chapman said. “Plus, half of the parking money will go to pay for using Booster Park [and] we received some generous private donations.“
Chapman said that paying for this year’s event will leave the Celebrate Orange committee without a reserve.
“But, we have enough to put it on in grand style this year,“ he said.
This year’s Picnic in the Park will begin July 4 at 5:30 p.m. in Booster Park. The event will feature performances by the Orange Community Chorus, the Orange Community Band and the Kenwood Players, as well as children’s games and activities, a skydiving demonstration, moonbounce, slide and food vendors. Fireworks will begin at 9:30 p.m.
“This is a good, safe, family environment,“ Chapman said. “It is a patriotic event and will feature outstanding local talent and spirit.“
Parking is $5 per car for Picnic in the Park and gates are expected to open at 4:30 p.m. Should weather be an issue, a rain date of July 5 has been scheduled. A complete schedule is expected to be released later this week.
For more information, call (540) 672-3322.