The Independence Day holiday will get a jump start this weekend with the annual Camden Point Freedom Festival kicking off with a parade through downtown Camden Point at 5:30 p.m. Saturday, June 29.
The festival will continue in Camden Point Park with a ceremony to honor veterans at 6:30 p.m. and live music starting at 7 p.m. Casi Joy, who competed on The Voice, will perform. Other activities include kids games, face painting, a petting zoo, food vendors and a bounce house. Fireworks will begin at dusk.
Activities continue on Thursday, July 4 in Platte City, Weston and Parkville.
The Parkville Independence Day Carnival will open in downtown Parkville at 6 p.m. Wednesday, July 3 and run through 11 p.m.
On July 4 in Parkville, the day kicks off with a pancake breakfast from 7-11 a.m. at the American Legion. The community parade will begin at 10 a.m., running from Northwest 63rd Street through downtown on Main Street. The Falcon Skydivers will perform at 8:45 p.m. with the fireworks show at 9:45 p.m. at English Landing Park.
The carnival will run from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Thursday, July 4 and noon to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday, July 5-6. Wristbands available for $25.
A shuttle service will run from 6-11 p.m. from the Platte County Community Center South, Park Hill High School and Park University. More information available at parkvillemo.org.
Weston bills itself as celebrating America’s birthday with small-town fun. The parade will begin on Main Street at 10 a.m. Thursday, July 4. Following the parade, Main Street will have activities and children’s games, including water games, watermelon-eating contest and a splash zone. There will be several food options available on Main Street and many restaurants will be open for lunch and dinner.
New this year are a pie baking contest and a corn “hull” tournament sponsored by Hull Lumber. Weston Community Theatre will perform ‘Mama Mia,’ and the River Bend Boys will perform.
Holladay Distillery will provide a DJ from 5-10 p.m. The distillery will also have a bar set up outside McCormick on Main with drinks for purchase. No outside alcohol will be allowed.
The fireworks display will be presented by Weston Masonic Lodge No. 53 at 9:45 p.m. The fireworks will be shot from the bottoms across the railroad tracks and will be visible at many locations around town, including the soccer field, Benner Park, Sharps Market, Trex Mart, city hall parking lot, the BunkHouse and Main Street.
In Platte City, there will be patriotic music and fireworks at Platte Ridge Park north of Platte City. A free shuttle bus will run from Harrel Ferrel Park beginning at 8 p.m. with the fireworks scheduled for 9:45 p.m. Free admission. Bring lawn chairs.