WARSAW — America will celebrate its 250th birthday next year and a local celebration spanning three days is in the works in Kosciusko County.

A group known as the Freedom Fest Committee announced on Wednesday that Kosciusko County will host Freedom Fest, a "once-in-a-generation celebration of America’s 250th birthday," on the weekend of June 5–7.

The event will take place at various locations in Kosciusko County.

Freedom Fest will feature a star-studded headline concert, a regional parade, a veterans and first responders tribute, historic reenactments, vendors, car, truck and tractor shows, as well as a focus on Kosciusko County Agriculture, Orthopedics, and other industries.

There will be family-friendly activities, along with faith and heritage gatherings.

"This is more than a concert or a parade — it's a county-wide and beyond act of gratitude and celebration," said Mike Loher, of the Freedom Fest Committee.

"We’re bringing all Americans together to honor our nation’s founding, its defenders, and the freedoms that define our way of life," he added.

The committee will oversee all logistics, organization, and fundraising, with local businesses, service organizations, and civic groups already pledging support.

To learn more and get involved in sponsorships, contact Loher at Mike@seven25events.com.

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WINONA LAKE — Winona Lake will host its annual July 4th fireworks a week early this year.

Festivities kick off Friday night with an annual flotilla on Winona Lake.

A full day of festivities on Saturday will be highlighted by the Symphony of the Lakes "Salute to America" concert at 8 p.m. at the Miller Sunset Pavilion, and Fireworks at 10 p.m. over Winona Lake.

A livestream of the choreographed fireworks can be heard on WRSW 107.3 FM.

The Winona Lake Limitless Park Facebook page also listed related activities. Those include:

The Village at Winona had a short announcement about the fireworks on its website, but there was no explanation about why the festivities were scheduled a week early.

The annual event is sometimes moved up on the calendar to avoid an overlap or problems with the county fair held at the nearby Kosciusko County Fairgrounds.

This year's fair begins Sunday, July 6, with a parade.

Slate Auto, which plans to construct a manufacturing facility in Warsaw and begin operations in 2026, announced earlier this week that it will help sponsor this year's fireworks. The company also plans to have a prototype of its electric pickup truck on display.

An exact location for the display was not specified, but much of the crowd that gathers for the holiday activities will be along Park Avenue near the lake.

According to a list by the Times-Union, all other July 4th holiday festivities in the area will be July 4 or 6.

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WARSAW — The Kosciusko County Community Fair parade is Sunday, July 6.

Here are a few details ahead of the event.

The post Details for July 6 Kosciusko Fair Parade announced appeared first on News Now Warsaw.

WARSAW — A new group is working to revive efforts to establish a League of Women Voters chapter in Kosciusko County.

[caption id="attachment_94636" align="aligncenter" width="800"] About 14 people attended Tuesday's meeting, which was considered the innaugural meeting of the new effort to establish a chapter of the League of Women Voters in Kosicusko County. News Now Warsaw photo by Dan Spalding.[/caption]

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SILVER LAKE — Silver Lake Days is back with a vengeance.

The summer tradition lost its energy six years ago, in part after the death of longtime organizer Larry Swihart and the pandemic seemed to seal its fate until Russ Bauer and others started talking about reviving it.

This year, the idea caught fire, he said.

"Every time we talked to anyone about it, they were all 100 percent. We put out some feelers for money and hell, we got ten grand in the bank already," Bauer said.

The result is a two-day event set to begin Friday morning.

The list of activities are extensive.

"Car show, bike show, tractor show, cornhole tournament, parade, petting zoo, Tiny Tots Motorcycle experience ... I could go on and on," he said.

"You can always hope for the best and it appears it's going to be everything we hoped for and then some," he said. "We hope it's going to be the biggest one, ever maybe."

Bauer said they have about three dozen pre-entries for the parade, which starts at 11 a.m., and he expects many more will show up, including about 30 to 40 entries from the Indiana Patriot Guard, which Bauer is a leader with.

Three live bands are scheduled to play Friday and Saturday.

The community garage sale begins at 8 a.m. Friday and continues through Saturday afternoon.

Food and craft vendors will open at noon on Friday.

Below is a list of events provided by the organizers.

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WARSAW --  The 106th Annual Kosciusko County Community Fair will be “out of this world” during the multi-day event.

The fair is July 10-15 at the Kosciusko County Fairgrounds. Parking is free and admission is from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. Adults, 10 to 64 years old, are $8. Seniors 65 and older are $3, and children 9 and younger are free. Weekly admission for adults is $40.

The fair kicks off on Sunday, July 9 with the annual parade.

Fair lunch passes (yellow ticket only) are sold at the main gate C and are available weekdays from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Park at the main gate C. Pick up the pass at the main gate ticket booth with a $5 deposit. Enter at the main gate. Return to the main gate by 2 p.m. for a full refund with a yellow ticket only.

Here are the list of events for the fair, as listed in the information provided by the fair. All events are subject to change and more information can be found online at kcfair.com.

Fair Shows/Events

Sunday, July 9

• 8:30 a.m. Harrison Center Church service, event center

• 3 p.m. Parade line up, Warsaw Police Department parking lot

• 3:30 p.m. 21st annual parade starts at Center Street to the main entrance to the fairgrounds

• 6 p.m. Opening ceremonies for the 106th Kosciusko County Community Fair, horse arena

• 6:30 p.m. gospel sing/evening services, event center

Monday, July 10

• Opening day of the 106th Annual Kosciusko County Fair

• 1 p.m. Admission gates open

• 1 p.m. Commercial tent opens

• 3 and 7 p.m. sea lion splash, commercial tent area

• 5:30 p.m. children’s pageants (Miss & Mister Toddler), event center

• 6 p.m. children’s pageant (Miss & Mister Preschool), event center

• 6 p.m. midway opens

• 6:45 p.m. children’s pageants (Little Miss & Mister), event center

• 7:30 p.m. Broken Horn IPRA World Champion Rodeo, grandstands

• 7:45 p.m. children’s pageants (Jr. Miss & Mister), event center

• 8 p.m. commercial tent closes

Tuesday, July 11

• Kiddies Day/4-H Leader Appreciation Day

• 9-10 a.m. kids free breakfast, event center

• 9 a.m. commercial tent opens

• 10 a.m. Lake City Bank Coin Hunt, event center

• 10:30 a.m. Baby Dinos Meet and Greet, event center

• 11 a.m. Fun with the Queen and Court, event center

• 11:30 a.m. and 7 p.m. sea lion splash, commercial tent area

• Noon Deb Collier’s School of Dance, event center

• 2 and 3:30 p.m. Silly Safari’s, event center

• 2 p.m. carnival rides open Kiddies Day Special 1 ticket ride day, Midway

• 4 p.m. pie judging, event center

• 5 p.m. Kiddies Pedal Pull Registration ages 3-4, 5-6, 7-8, 9-10, 11-12, top three in each age group will receive a prize, main drive by the fair office

• 5 to 7:30 p.m. tag art, event center

• 6 to 7 p.m. monster mash pit party, track area

• 7:30 pp.m. Monster Truck Mash, grandstand

• 8 p.m. commercial tent closes

Wednesday, July 12

• Senior Day, Seniors 65 and Better, $1 admission

• Community Day

• 8 a.m. Miller’s Senior Living welcomes seniors, event center

• 8 a.m. free senior breakfast, event center

• 9 a.m. gates open

• 9 a.m. singing performance, event center

• 9 a.m. senior programs and entertainment, event center

• 9 a.m. senior programs and entertainment, event center

• 9 a.m. free blood pressure checks, event center

• 9 a.m. commercial tent opens

• 10 a.m. senior bingo and euchre, event center

• Noon performance, event center

• 1 p.m. free senior ice cream social, event center

• 2 and 7 p.m. senior lion splash, commercial tent area

• 3 p.m. carnival rides open, midway

• 4 p.m. pie baking judging, fair office

• 7 to 7:30 p.m. jazz ensemble, event center

• 7:30 p.m. KOI Drags, grandstand

• 8 p.m. commercial tent closes

Thursday, July 13

• Farmer’s Day/Trucker’s Day

• United States Military Day

• 9 a.m. gates open

• 10:30 a.m. Baby Dino Meet and Greet, event center

• 1 p.m. commercial tent opens

• 1, 4 and 6:30 p.m. sea lion splash, commercial tent area

• 3 p.m. carnival rides open, midway

• 5 to 7 p.m. tag art, event center

• 6 p.m. Kosciusko’s Got Talent (all ages), event center

• 7:30 p.m. Bogg’s Boyz Mud Bogs, Grandstand

• 8 p.m. commercial tent closes

Friday, July 14

• Sponsorship and Media Day

• 9 a.m. gates open

• 1 p.m. commercial tent opens

• Noon to 1 p.m. Lions Karate of North Webster, event center

• 1 to 4 p.m. hot dog eating contest registration, event center

• 3 p.m. carnival rides open, midway

• 3:30 and 7 p.m. sea lion splash, commercial tent area

• 5 p.m. hot dog eating contest, event center

• 5 to 7 p.m. Paw Patrol Marshall, Chase and Sky Meet and Greet, event center

• 7 to 10 p.m. Karaoke with Chris Cage

• 7:30 p.m. Demolition Derby, Grandstand

• 8 p.m. commercial tent closes

Saturday, July 15

• 8 a.m. Show and Shine registration, point area

• 1 p.m. gates open

• 1 p.m. carnival rides open

• 1 p.m. commercial tent opens

• 1 p.m. sea lion splash, commercial tent are

• 2 p.m. Show and Shine judging starts, channel area

• 3 to 5 p.m. spiderman and elsa meet and greet, event center

• 5 to 7 p.m., sea lion splash, commercial tent area

• 7:30 p.m. truck and tractor pulls, grandstand

• 8 p.m. commercial tent closes, commercial tent area

Extension Homemakers Shows/Events

Sunday, July 9

• 1 to 9 p.m., Home and Family Arts building

Monday, July 10

• Noon to 9 p.m., Home and Family Arts Building, open

Tuesday, July 11

• 11:30 a.m. Department Best of Show and Champion Pictures for Media, open

• Noon to 9 p.m. Home and Family Building, open

Wednesday, July 12

• 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Home and Family Arts Building, open

Thursday, July 13

• Noon to 9 p.m. Home and Family Arts building, open

Friday, July 14

• Noon to 9 p.m. Home and Family Arts Building, open

• 5 p.m. winners announced for silent basket auction, HFA building

• 5 p.m, drawing for quilt and other items, HFA building

Saturday, July 15

• 10 a.m. to noon, release of exhibits

Antique Tractor/Village Shows/Events

Sunday, July 9

• After parade homemade icecream, antique area

• After parade kettle corn, antique area

Monday, July 10

• 4 to 8 p.m. tractor driving experience, antique area

• 7 p.m. Demonstration: Old Time Sawmill, antique area

Tuesday, July 11

• 5 p.m. kettle corn, antique area

• 5:30 p.m. sweet corn, antique area

• 5:30 p.m. homemade ice cream, antique area

• Noon to 8 p.m. tractor driving experience, antique area

Wednesday, July 12

• 5:30 p.m. Cast Iron Chill, antique area

• 4 to 8 p.m. tractor driving experience, antique area

• 7 p.m. Demonstration: Old Time Sawmill, antique area

Thursday, July 13

• 5:30 p.m. kettle corn, antique area

• 5:30 p.m. over the fire ham and beans, antique area

• 5:30 p.m. homemade ice cream, antique area

• 4 to 8 p.m., tractor driving experience, antique area

Friday, July 14

• 4 to 8 p.m. tractor driving experience, antique area.

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CLAYPOOL – The town of Claypool will celebrate its 150th anniversary Friday and Saturday.

On Friday, there will be an ice cream social from 4 to 8 p.m. at the Claypool Fire Station and people will be able to see historical displays at Claypool United Methodist Church.

At 6 p.m. Friday, there will be a kids parade on Main street. People can preregister by calling 574-566-2936. Winners will be announced at 7 p.m. at the judges' stand.

On Saturday, from 7 to 10 a.m., there will be a breakfast with pancakes and sausages at the Claypool Fire Station.

At 8 a.m., there is a 5K run, walk or ride event. Sign up at the Claypool United Methodist Church parking lot. To pre-register, people will need to send a check of $25 to Claypool Festival, 466 E. 1000 S. Claypool, IN 46510. To receive a T-shirt, you’ll need your name, phone number and shirt size along with the check.

A $25 registration includes a pancake breakfast, according to information provided by Donna Morris, Sesquicentennial Planning Committee member.

From 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., there will be historical displays at the United Methodist Church Fellowship Hall. Vendors will be available at the corner of Calhoun and Main streets from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Application forms are at the Claypool post office.

The parade sign-up begins at 10 a.m. at the schoolhouse. The parade is at 11 a.m. and will proceed west on Section Street and south on Main Street. Pre-registration is recommended by calling 574-527-4705. Registration forms are available at the post office.

The parade marshals are Marge and Janet Warren. The parade winners will be announced at noon in downtown Claypool at the judges' stand.

The Lions will have hotdogs, chips and water at the Lions building by donation. Someplace Else Saloon will have burgers and dogs on their grill. The Cub Scouts will have their mouse ears available at the Lions Park.

From 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, people will again be able to view historical displays at Claypool United Methodist Church.

Registration for several events will start at 1 p.m. The cornhole contest is $10 and starts at 1 p.m. in the bank lot.

The car show is also on Main Street starting at 1 p.m. The winners will be announced at 4 p.m.

The tractor show, starting at 1 p.m. will be on Railroad Street. Echoes of the Past will have homemade ice cream. Tractor winners will be awarded at 3:30 p.m.

Claypool United Methodist Church will have free kids games at the Lions Park from 1 to 2 p.m. Clifford the Dog will be there for a bouncy time.

There is a contest for kids starting at 2 p.m. at Lions Park.

Highway 30 and the Gunslingers will take the stage downtown from 2 to 6 p.m.

All registration forms are available at the Claypool post office or at People of Claypool on Facebook.

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