Busy July 4 scheduled for Othello

OTHELLO - The annual Patriot's Day celebration will keep Othello jumping all July 4, from breakfast and basketball in the morning to the fireworks finale.

The Rotary Club will sponsor breakfast at Lions Park beginning at 8 a.m., which is also when the Game On three-on-three basketball tournament starts. Registration will be taken to 7:30 a.m., but late registrants will pay a $90 fee.

The annual Run for America also begins at 8 a.m.; late registration is from 7 to 7:30 a.m. Runners on the one-mile course take off at 8 a.m., with the 5K and 10K contestants starting at 8:15 a.m.

Except for the parade, all activities are in Lions Park, between Pine and Hamlet streets.

Parade lineup is at Lions Park, however, and begins at 9 a.m. Parade organizers are asking people to be in line by about 9:15 a.m. Animal entries should line up at Ninth and Pine streets. The parade begins at 10 a.m.; the parade route starts at 13th Street and runs down Main Street.

Car enthusiasts can show off their ride at the annual car show from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

A long list of activities begin after the parade, at about 11 to 11:15 a.m., including a talent show and dance contest. Talent show and dance contestants will have three minutes to make an impression.

An ice cream eating contest is scheduled for 11:15 a.m., and bicycle tricks and pogo stick races from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. A number of other games are scheduled for the park, from sack races to water balloons carried on spoons. The tug of war, featuring a trash-talking match between the Othello Fire Department and the Othello Police Department, is scheduled for 11:30 p.m.

A battle of the bands is scheduled for 5 p.m.; bands will have 10 minutes on stage and will play one or two songs.

A church service is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.

Live acts will be on stage all day, ranging from the Dancing Grannies to a hypnotist to a ventriloquist.

The day winds up with fireworks at dusk, about 10 p.m.