City, lake plans July 4 activities

There will be a variety of activities going on this year for the Fourth of July.

The city will be holding their 10th annual El Dorado Parks and Recreation 4th of July Celebration at Forest Park and the Municipal Pool.

The parks and recreation department enjoys putting on the event.

“What we enjoy the most is that it’s a community event and it’s free to everyone in the community,” said John Scanlon, director of parks and recreation. “We encourage everyone to come out.”

The events will begin at 10 a.m. and continue through 5 p.m., with a variety of things going on.

There will be park games throughout the day, including such things as turtle races, face painting and crafts. There also will be free food from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and a free swim from 1 to 5 p.m.

Two tournaments also will be held: a wiffle ball tournament and Super Toss: “The Bean Game.” Anyone interested in participating in the tournaments must call the recreation department at 322-7400 to sign up.

One new thing this year is a free baseball game and fireworks after the first of two games.

The city, along with the El Dorado Broncos, is sponsoring the 6:30 game with the Broncos playing Denver.

These games are part of a tournament the Broncos are hosting July 3 through 5.

Thursday, El Dorado will play Park City at 6 p.m., followed by Park City and Newton at 8:30. Then on Saturday, Newton and Denver will play at 1 p.m., Denver and Park City at 3:30, El Dorado and Newton at 6:30 and Park City and El Dorado at 9:30.

In addition to the activities in town, the Friends of the Lake will be holding activities throughout the day at the El Dorado Lake.

“We, of course, started this back when the original lake association was developed and has been continued for probably the past 20 years since that time,” said Darrell Whitney, with the Friends of the Lake. “The most enjoyable part to us is just seeing the family and the kids that come out for the fireworks display. If you sit in the middle of where the families group out there and hear the children, that is a big payback to us.”

He encourages everyone to come out to the events.

“Come out for the afternoon and have a picnic and invite your family,” he said.

Things will kick-off out there with a bicycle decorating contest at the Bluestem Bait Shop, which is co-sponsoring the event with the Friends of the Lake. Judging starts at 9:30 a.m., and contestants are asked to assemble at 9:20. It is for children 12 and under and bikes must have a patriotic theme.

Prizes will be awarded for first, second and third place winners.

All entrants must be in the Fourth of July parade immediately following the judging.

Tthe Fourth of July parade will be held at Bluestem Point beginning at 10 a.m. It will begin at the Bluestem Bait Shop and proceed through Loops 5, 6 and 7, the west side of Loop 3, on to Loop 4 and then back to the Bait Shop, completing a five-mile route.

Those not camped at the lake are invited to bring lawn chairs and set up along the route.

Then Friday evening The Friends of El Dorado Lake and the El Dorado State Park will also put on their fireworks display.

The show will be held in the Shady Creek area of the El Dorado State Park and will be shot off the south end of the old Bluestem Dam at dusk. 

The fireworks display is sponsored by Friends of El Dorado Lake, city of El Dorado and the El Dorado State Park.

For additional information, call Whitney at 320-2265.