Print Copy of Events Calendar

2010 T-Shirt - Just you wait an see!

2010 Independence Day Home Decorating Contest

The first Independence Day Celebrations Home Decorating Contest went well. The contest is free and open to single and multi-unit dwellings with a City of Independence address…a City whose name is in America’s fame should have a contest like this. Registration begins right now and you must be registered by June 25th. Decorating may begin on June 1 and must be completed by June 30 because judging begins the next day, Thursday July 1st. Judges will be selected from outside the City of Independence. The contest awards a winner & runner-up in Most Attractive, Most Creative, and Most Patriotic. Awards will be announced and presented on Saturday, July 3rd from Riverwalk Parks Band Shell following the Community Band and will be appropriately recognized.

Click Independence Day Home Decorating Contest Entry for your entry form and Independence Day Home Decorating Contest Rules for those contest rules or stop by the Chamber office, Hartig Drug, Connie’s Hallmark or S & K Collectibles for your copies.

Get out there and decorate!

Friday – July 2nd – Miller Lite – The Great Independence Pig Out

Riverwalk Parks

It’s a FRIDAY night, it’s the beginning of a three-day weekend, it’s FREE entry, come on down to Riverwalk Parks and let’s party!

Come join us from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m., you bring two non-perishable foods items you will get a free 1/3 pound pork burger, four items will get two burgers or you bring a couple of bucks and you can purchase burgers. All the food and money will be donated to the Independence Area Food Pantry. We have increased our donation to the Pantry each year, 2006 was over 500 pounds, 2007 was over 700 and 2008 just short of 1000 pounds. Join us and beat the 2008 numbers!

The Challenge

The Pig Out Challenge Pork Burger Eating Contest is rolling!! This team event also supports the Independence Area Food Pantry. Get your co-workers or friends, form a team of five and see how many pork burgers you can eat as a team. The Challenge will last 10 minutes with one team member at a time at the challenge table. Take that winners trophy and those bragging rights into 2010! Entry fee is five (5) non-perishable food items per team member, 25 total or $25 with application. Click here on Pig Out Challenge Entry and Pig Out Challenge Individual Liability & Waiver or go to ‘Forms & Downloads’ for on-line registration.

The Championship

The 6th Annual Pork Burger World Championship is back for another belt-bursting year! The contest is simple. Ten minutes, hungry competitors, pork burgers and $500 cash. Who ever can consume the most burgers in 10 minutes takes home the loot. Do you have the stomach to be a Champion? It’ll cost you $20 to find out! Each year this event draws a bigger, louder and rowdier crowd, you won’t want to miss the 2009 event! Click here on World Championship Pork Burger Registration & Liability Form and World Championship Pork Burger Rules or go to ‘Forms & Downloads’.

Friday’s Schedule – Riverwalk Parks

4:30P ~ Great Independence Pig-Out
5:00-7:00 ~ FREE Pork Burgers w/Non-perishable donation to Food Pantry
5:30-7:30 ~ Music TBA
6:15 ~ Miller Lite Pig Out Challenge Pork Burger Eating Contest
7:30 ~ Miller Lite World Championship Pork Burger Eating Contest
8:15-Midnight ~ Music TBA

Saturday – 9:00 A – 150th 4th of July Parade

An Iowa Tradition – Folks have been lining 1^st Street E. and 2^nd Avenue NE every 4^th of July since 1860.  The 2010 Parade tradition continues; the theme for ‘10 is Celebrating Greatness.

Saturday – Independence Day 11:00 A

And the other Iowa Tradition – Riverwalk Parks

After the parade carry your lawn chair just a few short blocks to Riverwalk Parks for a full-day of music, food and fun and ending with an amazing fireworks display high above the Wapsipinicon River and it is FREE entry to the park.

Independence’s 4th of July Celebration has a reputation for outstanding musical performances. Throughout the day, one talented musical group after another will take the stage. From concert bands to blues and jazz there’s something for everyone—all day in the Riverwalk Parks.

Budweiser Coed Sand Volleyball Tournament – Get your team together now for the Budweiser Coed Sand Volleyball Tournment. Teams compete for the right to be called “Kings of the Sand” by the “King of Beers” and the right to take away cash, Budweiser trophy and championship Bud volleyball. Spots are limited so print and fill-out the registration form under “Forms & Downloads” and send in with your entry fee to insure a spot in the tournament on July 3rd. Click here on Coed Sand Volleyball Entry Form, Coed Sand Volleyball Waiver for the necessary waiver, and for the rules of the game, Coed Sand Volleyball Rules, or you can go to ‘Forms & Downloads’ to register on line and to print off everything else.

The FunZone

Dodgeball for kids ages 8 – 11 years of age.  Dodgeball will be part of the FunZone located in Teacher’s Park with the court located just south of the basketball court.  Kids will play four on a side in 3 minute rounds, no teams please. Whoever is still in after 3 minutes gets to stay. Dodgeball will go from 11:30 to 2:00 p.m., kids come on down and join in the fun!

Of course there’s plenty to do for the kids too. Our always popular FunZone features a wide variety of kid’s attractions, games, activities and tattoos and is open from 11:00 and runs until 8:00 p.m.

Guitar Hero Tournament! Show off your Guitar Hero skills on the band shell stage with your friends and maybe your family cheering you on! The tournament will kick off at 2:30 p.m. Dress to impress in your favorite rock star outfit. Tournament competitors are encouraged to wear mullet wigs, spiked wristbands, leather jackets and other props to help you rock on; however, masks and toy weapons are not allowed. Registration is open now, you must be 14 years of age or older. The advance entry fee is $5.00 on or before July 2. Registration on July 3, the day of the event is $10 and you must be entered by 2:00 p.m. Competition slots are limited. Registration form is right here, Guitar Hero Registration, or on the ‘Forms & Downloads’ page and is available at S & K Collectibles.

The Food

What’s a Fourth of July celebration without great All-American Food? Several food vendors are on hand to take care of any appetite. Pop, bottled water and other cold draft beverages are sold on the grounds.

The Fireworks

You cannot find better fireworks, no where, no how, than the highlight of each Independence Day Celebration high above the Wapsipinicon River. This stunning display is not a secret, we draw from across the Midwest, East and West Coast and from around the world, people schedule their 4th of July vacation around us!

Saturday’s Schedule – Riverwalk Parks

11:00 ~ The FunZone
11:20A ~ Reading of the Declaration of Independence
11:30 ~ Budweiser Coed Sand-Shootout Volleyball Tournament
11:45 ~ Independence Community Band
12:30P ~ Awards & Announcements
1:00-Midnight ~ Music TBA
10:00 ~ FIREWORKS!

Sunday’s Schedule July 4th – Various Locations

8:00A–Noon ~ Chamber of Commerce Ham & Cheese Breakfast at Mill
9:30 ~ Ecumenical Church Service at Veteran’s Park
10:00 ~ Indee Firecracker Open Golf Tournament