Independence Day, or the 4th of July, is one of the most loved holidays in America. Most cities and towns cram parades, barbecues, summer activities and fireworks into one day to celebrate the freedom of our country. Like most small town celebrations, Circleville’s 4th of July is packed with events from 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.
To start the boisterous holiday, floats, tractors, old cars, ATVs and more lined up near the Circleville elementary to start the parade at 10:00 a.m. The parade lasted about an hour and showed off multiple highly-decorated vehicles. Some vehicles highlighted business promotions, others showcased people, like the Miss Piute Float and the Rodeo Royalty.
Other parade members’ sole purpose was to have a little fun. Many of these go crazy splashing the audience with water. The Westwood Dairy tractor and cheese handout is always a favorite. This year, Wade Westwood, wearing his 70s mullet wig, drove his swather tractor. Three of his children sat on the front and threw out Beaver Creamery cheese curds and joked with the crowd as they passed by. People from all the towns inside of Piute County came to enjoy Circleville’s 4th of July parade.
After getting candy or being soaked from water balloons, the town settled inside the Circleville town building for Independence Day facts, patriotic songs, talents and parade awards. As per annual tradition, one of the Circleville wards from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints served pulled pork sandwiches for lunch. At the same time, the PTO hosted bingo.
The Piute Recreation Department was in charge of games, water slides and dunk machines, which were located in the softball field between the elementary and the town building. They also did a cow chip game, where Faith Fullmer and Marnie Reynolds won. Accompanying the noise of happy screams and giggles was live music by Southbound underneath the CES pavilion. At 3:00 a Co-Ed softball tournament began, put on by Mekeisia Westwood.
When dark arose, so did the fireworks. County members parked their cars around the field just north of Circleville cemetery and watched the sky light with booms of color. The fire department gave a wonderful show to end the celebratory day.
– by Ari Hurdsman
Feature image caption: The Grinch’s 4th of July gift is the Barnson boys splashing town members with water balloons. All pictures courtesy of Jodi Hurdsman.
Ari Hurdsman – Junction
Ari Hurdsman is a junior journalist at the Byway. She just recently moved to Ephraim, Utah, where she is a freshman at Snow College. She enjoys writing about Piute sports, and she’s really good at it! In her free time, she enjoys singing, dancing, reading and hanging out with friends and family.