JUDSONIA — The Judsonia Activities Committee has one Independence Day tradition: Celebrate the Saturday before the holiday.
Summer Blast 2016, Judsonia’s annual Fourth of July and summer celebration, will take place Saturday at Friendly Acres Park, beginning at 8 a.m.
“Even back a long time ago, certainly before I ever was around, the Fourth of July was a big thing in Judsonia,” said Twyla Land, secretary of the Judsonia Activities Committee. “Anywhere, the Fourth of July is such a big ordeal and a big celebration. We just want to kind of carry on the tradition.”
Summer Blast will include a children’s Fishing Derby at 8 a.m., a pingpong ball drop at 10:30 a.m., a car show from 1-5 p.m. and a live musical performance by the Sugar Creek Band at 6:30 p.m. A fireworks show will close out the day’s activities at dark.
“We try to do something that we as a committee can work with and do and keep up with,” Land said. “And then we want to do something that the people will enjoy, we feel like, both children and adults.”
The Fishing Derby has three age categories: 3 to 6, 7 to 9 and 10 to 12. Within the age groups, prizes will be awarded for the first fish caught, the largest fish caught and the most pounds caught. Prizes will also be awarded for the first fish caught and the largest fish caught out of all the contestants.
“Those who participate also get something special,” committee member Jessica Robinson said.
For the pingpong-ball drop, which is also for groups of children ages 3 to 12, a committee member will stand atop a ladder and empty a bucket full of numbered pingpong balls. A certain number will be announced, and the winners who pick up that number will each receive a bicycle, courtesy of a special donation the committee received.
Robinson said the day’s car show, presented by the town’s Dirt Road Car Club, is open to car entries of any kind — “no stipulations, no rules.” The entry fee is $5, and prizes are awarded for Mayor’s Choice, People’s Choice, Best of Show and Longest Traveled.
The band will play until the fireworks show begins at about 9 p.m.
“They play a variety of music from bluegrass to country to a little bit of rock and oldies,” Robinson said.
Each year, the event also dedicates its fireworks show to an individual. This year’s show is dedicated to the late Rickey Veach, a former Judsonia mayor.
“His favorite event was Summer Blast, and [he] enjoyed being a part of the fireworks show,” Robinson said.
The committee will also be working toward raising funds to support its yearly events, such as its Fish Fry and Christmas Pageant. Throughout the day, $1 tickets will be sold, and a winner will be drawn before the fireworks show. Half of the money raised from ticket sales will go to the winner, and the other half will support the activities committee. The car show will also raise money for the organization.
Since the local fire department will manage the event’s concession stands, those funds will go to the department, Robinson said.
Robinson said parking for Summer Blast fills up fast, and she suggested that those attending the fireworks show arrive at the park from 5-6 p.m.
Robinson said area businesses gave donations for the event’s fireworks show, which can cost thousands of dollars to present. Those who donated get a front-row VIP viewing spot of the show and free drinks.
“Our town is really supportive of our Summer Blast,” she said. “It’s really a community coming together. Everybody loves seeing each other, having a good time.”
Staff writer Syd Hayman can be reached at (501) 244-4307 or shayman@arkansasonline.com.