Independence Day is quickly approaching, and area celebrations are planned around the area.
The Clearfield Lions Club 71st annual celebration will include three days of fun beginning July 2 and culminating on Thursday, July 4.
The Clearfield Lions Club shuttled the Ringgold County fair queen candidates in the July 4 parade last year, and again at the Iowa State Fair later that year. The club provides roughly 64 drivers a day to run eight shuttles. They make six to seven stops along through the campgrounds, the fairgrounds, and Pioneer Hall. Photo by Darla Sobotka
This year’s theme is “Something To Be Proud Of” and will celebrate 60 years of service at the Iowa State Fair. The Clearfield Lions Club has provided shuttle service to Iowa State Fair patrons since 1964.
The club officially organized in 1952, and chartered the Taylor County town in March of 1953. They generated enough profit to construct the Lions Club Hall building in 1967.
Clearfield’s annual festivities will begin with a 5K Glow Run at 9:00 p.m. on Tuesday, July 2. Starting at the Clearfield Lions Hall, the event helps raise funds for the annual 4th of July Celebration.
A 5K (3.1 mile) run/walk and a two mile run/walk will be held for both male and female participants across seven age classes.
Participants can register ahead of time, or the day of the event starting at 7:00 p.m.
For more information, call Mitchell Jennett at 641-344-0904 or email: m16jennett@gmail.com.
A home run derby is planned for Wednesday, July 3 at the ball field beginning at 5:00 p.m. Adults and high school/college players will kick the derby off, followed by kids 15 and under playing at 6:00 p.m. Contact Chris Leonard at 402-650-1557 for more information.
There will also be a truck and tractor pull on Wednesday, July 3 starting at 7:00 p.m. The event is sanctioned by the Northwest Missouri Tractor Pullers Association and the Midwest Puller’s Association. For more information, call Bill Larsen at 641-425-9322.
On Thursday, the annual 4th of July celebration starts with sandlot volleyball in the park at 9:00 a.m. Contact Daniel Leonard at 641-344-9885 for more information.
The fun continues in the Clearfield Park with a baby contest at 1:00 p.m., followed by kids games at 2:00 p.m. Foot/sack races and an egg toss are planned for kids age 4 and up.
A bags tournament will begin at 4:00 p.m. at Bootleggers Bar & Grill. Contact Shain Sites to register your team at 642-820-1110.
The Clearfield United Methodist Church will be serving pie and ice cream inside the Clearfield Lions Hall beginning at 6:00 p.m., and the gigantic parade will start at 6:30 p.m.
The 71st annual Clearfield Lions Club celebration will conclude with a fireworks show at 10:15 p.m. See ad for more details.
In Mount Ayr, the Sportsmen’s Club sponsors a fireworks display launched from the Loch Ayr Lake dam on Saturday, July 6 at dusk (around 9:30 p.m.).
Sun Valley Iowa Lake Association is also planning to set off fireworks for association members on Friday, July 5. In the event of rain, they will plan for Saturday, July 6 instead.