Come Join the Maskerade
The 35th Sewanee Fourth of July committee is pleased to announce all the events to help celebrate America. The theme this year is Maskerade.
In accordance with state masking protocols, masks are optional for attendance at the events on July 3 and July 4. Most of the events will occur outdoors to minimize the risk of spreading COVID-19, but inherent risk to exposure exists in any public place where people are gathered.
MSSA Pub Run
Join the Monteagle Sunday School Assembly (MSSA) in celebrating their annual Pub Run starting at 8 a.m., Saturday, July 3. Runners will meet at the MSSA Front Gate and run to Shenanigans (6.4 miles) on the Mountain Goat Trail. Walkers may start at Dollar General. The fee for the run is $20. Pre-register at the MSSA Office or call (931) 924-2286 for more information. All are welcome to participate.
Street Dance & Splish Splash Bash
The celebration will begin on Saturday, July 3, at 5:30 p.m. with kid’s games, water slides, plenty of food vendors, and all-around family fun at Angel Park. The Street Dance will start at 7 p.m. featuring live music by Men of Soul.
Sunrise Yoga
The Sewanee Community Center is hosting a Sunrise Yoga session from 6–7:15 a.m. in Manigault Park. The class is free and for any level of yoga ability. Please bring your own mat. The rain location is in Sewanee Community Center. If it is raining and the class is indoors, the windows will be open for ventilation and we ask that all participants wear masks indoors in accordance with CDC guidelines.
Flag Raising
Greet the day with cheer and song! Join your friends and neighbors at Sewanee’s Fourth of July Flag Raising Ceremony sponsored by The Friends of Abbo’s Alley.
Note the change of location: This year, the ceremony will be held at 8 a.m. at the Sewanee Football Field instead of the traditional location of the Juhan Bridge in Abbo’s Alley. The change in location allows for more physical distancing, access to restrooms, and handicap accessibility. Sing patriotic songs with music by the Sewanee Summer Music Festival Brass Ensemble and observe the Rising of the Colors by Sewanee Boy Scout Troop 14. A light potluck breakfast will follow the ceremony on the lawn of the Centennial House (formerly known as the Kirby-Smith House) with coffee and juice provided by the Blue Chair and Friends of Abbo’s Alley. A light breakfast item to share (individually wrapped if possible) and/or a donation for the Friends of Abbo’s Alley would be appreciated.
For at least two decades, Sewanee Boy Scout Troop 14 has kicked off July 4 celebrations with this traditional flag raising ceremony at the historic Abbo’s Alley flagpole at the Juhan Bridge. The ceremony provides an opportunity to join with friends and neighbors to begin a full day of celebration through patriotic music and singing. Although the ceremony has been moved to the football field this year, it should be noted with great thanks that the historic flagpole has received a much-needed refurbishment by Troop 14’s own Porter Neubauer who repaired the flagpole, shored up stone steps, and planted native shrubs and trees in Abbo’s Alley as part of his Eagle Scout project.
For more information, contact Margaret Beaumont Zucker at (931)-598-5214. We hope to see you there!
Arts & Crafts Fair Vendors
We invite you to participate in our Arts & Crafts Fair beginning on Sunday, July 4, at 9 a.m. in Shoup Park, where you can view the parade without leaving your booth, rain or shine. There is a $20 non-refundable fee and spaces are limited and pre-assigned, so sign up early. Go to <sewanee4thofjuly.org> under Event Registration for more information and for your entry form or contact Bracie Parker at <melaniebracie@yahoo.com> with any questions. Come spend the day with us, sell your wares, and enjoy the parade and other fun activities.
Arts & Crafts Fair
Join us in Shoup Park starting at 9 a.m. to find gifts for your friends and family or a treasure for yourself at the arts & crafts fair. Browse the booths for a wide variety of artisanal artifacts that just might be exactly what you were looking for.
Food
Vendors along University Avenue will begin selling food and drinks at 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. Visit the Munchie Map tab on <sewanee4thofjuly.org> to view all the food vendors and their planned locations. Map is also available on page 11 of this issue.
Mutt Show
Enter your favorite pooch in the 2021 Fourth of July Mutt Show! All dogs are welcome to compete — no talent necessary. Registration for the Mutt Show will take place from 9–9:45 a.m. in Manigault Park. The show begins at 10 a.m. Ribbons will be awarded for these canine categories: best dressed, owner/dog look-alike, best theme, best trick and judges’ choice. Entrants may register to compete in two categories. The registration fee is $5 per category, and all proceeds will go to the Fourth of July Fireworks. Audience members may contribute to Animal Harbor and MARC. In case of rain, the Mutt Show will take place in the Equestrian Center.
SSMF Pop-Up Brass Ensemble
The Sewanee Summer Music Festival Brass Ensembles will be performing around town beginning with an ensemble outside of All Saints’ Chapel following the 10 a.m. Eucharist service. Keep an ear out for their inspiring patriotic performances.
Children’s Games
Children’s games and bounce houses will be available from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Sewanee’s Central Quad.
Meet the Volunteer Organizations
From 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., join us in Angel Park to discover the multitude of volunteer organizations supported by the Sewanee Community Chest and meet the people who make it all happen. You may even find an organization where you want to make a difference.
SCA Community Service Awards
Not being able to meet in-person for the past year, the Sewanee Civic Association invites you to join us in Angel Park at noon to honor the recipients of our 37th and 38th Community Service Awards and the 2020 and 2021 Summa Cum Laude Awards with an award presentation and champagne toast.
Cake Contest
Calling all cake bakers! Have a favorite cake recipe or a talent for cake decorating? Put your skills on display this Fourth of July by entering your cake in the Sewanee Woman’s Club annual Cake Contest! Entering is free of charge, and the winner of the Best All-Around Cake gets $100 cash, courtesy of The Sewanee Mountain Messenger and a $50 Piggly Wiggly gift card, courtesy of Piggly Wiggly in Monteagle. But there’s more!
Adult winners of the Best Tasting, Best Decorated, and Best Representation of the Theme cakes will each a receive ribbon, a $50 gift card from Piggly Wiggly, and a $35 gift card from Shenanigans. Under-13 winners of the Best Tasting, Best Decorated, and Best Representation of the Theme cakes each receive a ribbon, $10 cash courtesy of The Sewanee Mountain Messenger, and a gift certificate for ice cream from The Blue Chair. There will also be a Best All-Around prize for the children’s cakes.
Winners of the Best Tasting, Best Decorated, and Best Representation of the Theme contests will be entered in the Best All-Around Competition. Thanks to Ken Taylor for his ribbon sponsorship.
Show up to register and set up your cake between 9–9:45 a.m. on Sunday, July 4, in the American Legion Hall.
Winners will be announced at noon. Enter as an individual or as a team. One entry per person or per team. Go to <sewanee4thofjuly.org> under Event Registration for a printable registration form. Questions? Please call Paula Yeatman at (931) 598-0559.
Breslin Tower Bells
Also at noon, The University of the South Guild of Change Ringers will perform at Breslin Tower.
Carillon Concert
Charlene Williamson and Raymond Gotko will perform a Carillon Recital at 1 p.m. Bring a chair to All Saints’ Chapel to enjoy the music.
Parade Entries
The Fourth of July Parade Committee has been working for months on the biggest, best, most arms-open-wide parade Sewanee has ever seen. There will be fire engines, police cars, our grand marshals Dixon and Annwn Myers, and this year we want you and your organization to be recognized and cheered on in the Mask-CAR-ade parade.
Sewanee’s Fourth of July Parade celebrates America and its origins at a time when the ideals of freedom and good citizenship were agreed upon by all. The parade is an event where everyone feels welcome and respected—where spectators and participants alike feel proud of our big/little town for its creativity, diversity, and mutual respect.
The committee wants you to know there are so many creative ways to strut your stuff down University Avenue, and they range from traditional and elaborate, to simple, elegant, memorable and bizarre. Anything with wheels is good: flatbeds, cars, convertibles, golf carts, wagons, wheelbarrows, bikes, big wheels, scooters; but on foot (or hooves) could be even better, especially if you have a colorful banner (and/or signs, big hats, confetti, giant pinwheels) declaring who you are and what you do for this diverse community.
The parade begins at 2 p.m. on Sunday, July 4, with line-up on Georgia Avenue starting at noon and with judging starting at 1 p.m. sharp. The categories for judging will be: trophies for best float, best decorated vehicle, and best horse; blue ribbons for best decorated bicycle, best banner, best costume, and individual judge’s picks.
If you’re interested in showing how your organization keeps alive the American spirit of opportunity and hope for all, please register online by June 30 at <sewanee4thofjuly.org> under Event Registration. Let’s see what Sewanee comes up with for our Mask-CAR-ade!!!!!
Parade Observers
Please do not park on university avenue. All vehicles must be moved before noon to make room for the parade. Some parking will be available at the Sewanee Community Center/Sewanee Senior Center behind the Sewanee Market. The parade will begin at 2 p.m. starting at the caution light at the intersection of Georgia and University Avenues and will travel downtown. Please note that sirens will be on for the duration of the parade.
SSMF Event
The Sewanee Summer Music Festival students and Sewanee Symphony Orchestra will be performing in All Saints’ Chapel at 3:30 p.m. This is a ticketed event ($10).
Air Show
Weather permitting, the Air Show will take place at 3:30 p.m. at the Sewanee Airport.
Airplane Rides
Airplane rides will be available for adults and children after the parade until 6 p.m. at the Sewanee Airport. Parents must be present to give written permission for children under age 18 to ride. Airplane rides cost $30 per person.
Volleyball Tournament
Everyone ages 13 and up is invited to participate in a volleyball tournament starting at 5 p.m. at Lake Cheston. Each team must have at least four players and at least two female players. Register online at <sewanee4thofjuly.org> under Event Registration to reserve your team’s spot in the tournament or register on July 4 at the event. There is no fee to participate, and the grand prize is $100 cash.
Fireworks & Food Truck Alley
There will be plenty of food vendors lined up along Breakfield Road starting at 5 p.m. to feed your appetite while you wait for the fireworks to start. Visit the Munchie Map tab on <sewanee4thofjuly.org> to view all the food vendors that will be available.
After dark, the Fireworks Show will be at Lake Cheston. There will be a suggested donation of $1 to contribute to next year’s fireworks.
This is a walking or biking event for most participants. Please plan accordingly to walk or bike to Lake Cheston. Parking at the Lake will be limited to disabled and special needs only. You will need to display your Disabled Driver Decal or Placard to be allowed to park at Lake Cheston.