Heading to Chenoa for the city's Fourth of July celebration? Here's what you need to know

Planning to hit Chenoa for the Fourth of July holiday? Here are some things you may want to know.

Festivities for the Fourth of July celebration actually began with the annual Road Rally on Sunday, June 30.

However, July 3 is when things really start rolling. It starts with the House Decorating judging in the afternoon. Driving around town allows visitors to take in all of the festive touches people put on their homes for the competition. It’s like seeing homes lit up for Christmas, only much warmer.

What else is taking place?

The Chenoa Women’s Club Ice Cream Social at Main City Park will take place from 5-8 p.m. on July 3. This will include the naming of the winners of the Road Rally, the House Decoration contest, as well as the recognition of the Chenoan of the Year, Mr. and Mrs. 4th of July and Master Firecracker and Miss Sparkler. These people will also be special guests in the parade on July 4.

The Vendor Fair at Main City Park will open on July 2 and run until 3 p.m. on July 4.

Getting your groove on

After enjoying ice cream and browsing the vendor fair, people may want to head downtown where the annual Street Dance will take place. The music begins at 8 p.m. Stone Cold Cowboys will play until midnight.

The main events

There are two primary crowd-gathering events taking place on July 4. The first is the annual parade, which goes through the downtown area before turning east on Lincoln Street and ending at Seventh Street. The parade steps off at 2 p.m.

Main Event, Part II, is the fireworks show, long considered to be the best in the area. There is seating available at George B. Ferree Field, but the show is visible from the bike path along Old Route 66, as well as other open areas.

Where to park

There is plenty of parking on city streets for the ice cream social and street dance. The downtown area will be closed off for the dance and for the parade, but the Methodist Church parking lot provides parking. There is a city lot at Main City Park just north of the Baptist Church. The entrance is on Second Street.