The 52nd annual Independence Day Festival on Saturday, July 3, in downtown St. Marys is an event packed with runs, a parade, music, all-day entertainment, vendor displays, food and fireworks.
Sponsored by the St. Marys Kiwanis Club, this festival’s theme is “Celebrating Our Heroes” who work in health care and research.
Arts and crafts vendors will open for browsing throughout the day and there will be entertainment from 11:15 a.m. until just before the fireworks display at 9 p.m. in downtown St. Marys.
Festival-goers are asked to leave their pets at home for their well being and the safety of others at the festival.
5K, 10K runs
The 5K and 10K races begin at 7 a.m. Saturday, July 3, with a youth 1-mile run at 8 a.m., from the intracoastal gateway property, 100 Ready St. in downtown. The registration fee is $25 for the 5K and 1 mile and $30 for the 10K.
Participants can register the day of the race and pick up their packets from 6 to 7 a.m. Saturday at the church. Early registration closes July 2. Online registration is available at https://runsignup.com/Race/GA/StMarys/IndependenceDayFestival.
The top male and female runners overall and the first three male and female finishers in seven categories will receive awards.
All proceeds support Kiwanis programs and the Camden Community Family Center. For more information, visit www.smkiwanis.com or send an email to anthonyk95@tds.net.
Parade
The parade starts at 10 a.m. Saturday at Meeting Street and will continue down Osborne Street, ending just past the waterfront park on West St. Marys Street. The theme celebrates health care workers and researchers.
Participants will begin lining up at 8 a.m. at the corner of Osborne and Meeting streets.
Blood drive, vaccines
The Kiwanis will also be hosting a blood drive during the festival from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the OneBlood bus. Anyone who donates will receive a gift card and a T-shirt. Appointments are encouraged and can be made at www.oneblood.org/donate-now/ with the sponsor code 31348.
The Coastal Health District will also have a festival booth, offering COVID-19 vaccines from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The pop-up clinic is open to anyone 12 and older. Walk-ins are welcome but appointments can be made through chdcovidvax.org.
Entertainment
There will be a variety of music and performances from 11:15 a.m. to 8:45 p.m. at the amphitheater stage in the waterfront park.
• 11:15 a.m. Lisa Allen’s Dance Works
• noon Grimsley Fighting Arts
• 1:15 p.m. Hal Weathers playing the bagpipes
• 2:15 p.m. Man Apart and Awakening praise band
• 3:45 p.m. Becca Heath
• 4:45 p.m. The Heirs
• 5:45 p.m. Rebecka Moreno
• 6:30 p.m. Rocky the rock shrimp shows off his dance moves
• 7:15 p.m. Aili Johnson and Ryleigh Stone
• 8 p.m. Jacob Sands and Brady Earls
The celebration culminates at 9 p.m. with a professional fireworks display accompanied by music.