Editor's note: This article has been updated to include the postponement of the Warsaw fireworks, the cancelation of the Great American Kites & Events and information about Central Missouri Speedway.
For people looking to celebrate the Fourth of July beyond a backyard barbecue, there are plenty of options across west central Missouri.
To have your event added to our online list, email news@sedaliademocrat.com.
Sedalia
After a hiatus for nearly every program last year, the Sedalia Parks and Recreation Department is bringing back some of its annual Independence Day activities in 2021.
Special Events & Marketing Manager Savannah Lynde said July 4 will feature half-price swimming at Centennial Park pool, a picnic and music at Centennial Park and a fireworks display at the Missouri State Fairgrounds grandstand.
“We’re excited, just in general, to be getting everything back to normal, back to normal summer events we’ll be able to do again, like the Fourth of July picnic,” Lynde said. “It’s awesome to be able to be doing some normal things. A lot of the stuff we’re doing that day is free so anyone is welcome to come out and enjoy it.”
The picnic will be from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Shelter No. 1 with free hotdogs, chips and a drink. Full Moon Band will be performing and there will be bounce houses.
Liberty Park pool will be closed on July 4, so swimming is half-price ($2) at Centennial Park pool from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is free for those who have a military or veteran ID.
The night will end with fireworks at the grandstand starting around 9:30 p.m. The grandstand will open at 8:30 p.m. or people can watch from their cars on the fairgrounds.
“The fireworks are going to be pretty awesome, a 30-ish-minute show is what they do,” Lynde said. “People can come out and enjoy it with their families in their cars or come to the grandstands. Come out and enjoy the parks and have fun with your family.”
For more information, contact Lynde at slynde@sedaliaparks.com, stop by the Sedalia Parks & Recreation Office at 1500 W. Third St. or call 660-826-4930.
While it is not a Parks and Rec activity, the Sedalia Runners Club will host the 40th annual Firecracker Mile at Liberty Park, a change from the fairgrounds. Check-in starts at 7 a.m. July 4 and the race starts at 8 a.m.
The entry fee is $20 for open and novice races and $10 for children 14 and younger in the Youth Mile Race. The Pee Wee Dash and Junior Jog are free until June 20, when the price increases to $5.
For more information or to sign up, visit http://bit.ly/FireCrackerMileSedalia.
VFW Post 2591 and the VFW Auxiliary are hosting a Fourth of July parade at 11 a.m. July 4 in downtown Sedalia.
The parade route will be south on South Ohio Avenue starting at Seventh Street.
Entry forms can be picked up at the VFW, 121 S. Ohio Ave., and returned to vfwaux2591@gmail.com or VFW Auxiliary Attn: Briana Borts, 121 S. Ohio Ave., Sedalia, MO 65301. Participants should be lined up no later than 10:30 a.m. at Fifth Street and Osage Avenue.
For more information, call 660-473-5514.
Warrensburg
Warrensburg Parks and Recreation and Warrensburg Main Street are partnering for this year’s Fourth of July Parade on July 3.
As part of the event, a bike parade will begin at the Johnson County Courthouse, go up East Market Street, circle to East Gay Street and end back at the courthouse.
Participants are encouraged to decorate their wagons, trikes, bikes, pets or even themselves to take part in the parade.
Special prizes, a bounce house, games and face painting will be available before and after the parade.
The parade is free to the public and there are no registration fees. Parade participants should gather at the Courthouse lawn by 10:15 a.m. The parade begins at 10:30 a.m.
Grover Park Baptist Church will host its annual Fourth of July activities and firework display beginning at 6:30 p.m. July 4 on the church lawn at 409 N. Mitchell St.
The church will begin offering food, drinks, bounce houses and games at 6:30 p.m.
The Faith Riders and American Legion Riders will start riding at 7:15 p.m.
The Warrensburg Community Band Concert will take place at 7:30 p.m.
Announcements will be made at 8:30 p.m. and at dark (about 9 p.m.) a patriotic service will be hosted and fireworks will begin. Whiteman Air Force Base personnel will also be present to present the colors.
Admission to Grover Park Baptist Church’s event is free.
In case of rain, the rescheduled date will be July 5.
The 21st Annual Tom Wilson Memorial takes center stage at Central Missouri Speedway over two nights of racing through Fourth of July weekend.
This year’s payout for A-Mods features the return of the $5,000-to-win, 50-lap A-main, which pays at least a $1,000-to-start all the way down to 24th position. In addition to A-Mods, POWRi Super Stocks, B-Mods, and Pure Stocks will also compete both nights.
The weekend features a live band and post-race party on Saturday in the Pub 13 building and fireworks on Sunday.
Visit centralmissourispeedway.net and click on the “INDEPENDENCE DAY AT CMS!” tab for race formats, order of events, planned agenda, general information and race payouts.
Holden
The Holden Chamber of Commerce will host a fireworks display the night of July 4 at Holden City Park.
Warsaw
The Fireworks Extravaganza planned for July 3 at Drake Harbor in Warsaw has been postponed until Labor Day weekend.
According to the Warsaw Chamber, the pyrotechnics team has the delta variant of COVID-19 and will not be able to put on the show. After contacting other fireworks companies, the decision was made to postpone the event. The Chamber stated it hopes to have vendors, live music and more with the rescheduled fireworks show.
Lincoln
A lengthy schedule of events is planned for July 3 in Lincoln City Park.
The day kicks off at 9 a.m. with the baby contest followed by the antique truck and tractor parade at 10 a.m. and the 3v3 basketball tournament and kids fun mud run both at 11 a.m.
There will be kids games from 1 to 2:30 p.m. and from 1 to 3 p.m. there will be barrel train rides.
The pet parade will take place at 3 p.m. followed by the queen contest from 4 to 6 p.m. There will also be an adult cornhole tournament, yard games, an arm-wrestling tournament and backseat driver all from 4 to 6 p.m.
The beer garden will be open from 6 to 11 p.m. featuring Rider Smith at 6 p.m. and Cedar Creek performing from 7 to 11 p.m.
The Fourth of July will begin with a community church service at 10 a.m. at the baseball field. There will be a fireworks show at dusk.
Windsor
The Windsor Area Chamber of Commerce will host an Independence Day celebration on July 4 at Farrington Park. The event is free.
The opening ceremony begins at 8:45 a.m. with American Legion Post 82. Activities will begin and vendors will open at 9 a.m.
Games include turtle race at 9 a.m., frog race at 9:30 a.m., egg race at 10 a.m., sack race at 10:30 a.m., soft egg toss at 11 a.m., water balloon toss at 11:30 a.m., and Bruce Hadley Memorial Softball Throw at noon.
Food will be available all day. There will be a fireworks display at dusk.
For more information, visit www.windsormo.org or call the Windsor Chamber at 660-647-2318.
Whiteman Air Force Base
Whiteman AFB will host a free event open to all Department of Defense ID holders and their guests beginning at 5 p.m. July 1.
Food and drinks will be available for purchase. Other activities include inflatables, rock wall, bungee pods, rides, petting zoo, pony rides, and an animal selfie station. Fireworks will begin shortly after dusk.
Tipton
The Friends of the Maclay Home will host the 39th annual Ice Cream Social on the Home’s lawn in Tipton on Sunday, July 4. The Home is located on the corner of Howard and state Route B, six blocks north of state Highway 5 and U.S. Highway 50 intersection.
Ice cream, homemade cakes, hamburgers and hot dogs will be served from the Carriage House kitchen from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Attractions on the grounds will include Civil War reenactors with cannon firings and a mock battle, Country Store, games for children, and live musical entertainment provided by The Melody Makers.
Tours of the historic Maclay Home will be conducted from noon to 1:30 p.m. Veterans may tour the Home free on July 4.
Built as Rose Hill girls’ seminary in 1858, the Maclay Home served as Union headquarters throughout the Civil War and is said to have hosted Gen. John Fremont during his time in the area. All 17 rooms contain their original furnishings from the Gleim and Maclay families.
Mora
Von Holten Ranch, 30455 Pacific School Road, was set to host the Great American Kites & Events on July 3 but the event has been canceled due to weather.
