Boone County Fourth of July Celebration
Boone County, Indiana

About the 2008 Boone County Fourth of July Celebration

The 2008 Boone County Fourth of July Committee

A packed schedule of concerts, food, contests and fun – and of course a parade and fireworks – is on tap for the 2008 Boone County Fourth of July celebration.

The more than half-century tradition kicks off on Saturday, June 14th with the Mrs. Boone Contest and culminates with the end of the carnival and a dinner and concert on July 5.

All events – except for organizational dinners and the carnival – cost nothing for the public to attend.

The Boone County Fourth of July Committee – an all-volunteer group of residents who coordinate the event – sponsors the events.

Complete listing of 2008 Fourth of July events by date

• Mrs. Boone County Contest: This event recognizes outstanding women who have made invaluable contributions across Boone County. The contest is scheduled Saturday, June 14, at the new Boone County 4-H Pavilion, located on the Boone County 4-H Fairgrounds. 2008 marks the 50th contest, which began in 1959 and was won by Ann Graham. Application deadline for contestants is May 1.
• Almost Anything Goes: An annual favorite, this event pits teams against each other in a series of silly contests ranging from inner tube races to food eating relays to musical ice buckets. Teen competition is scheduled Monday, June 30, with adults going at it Tuesday, July 1, while the experienced (age 40 and older) take the field on Tuesday, July 2. All contests begin at 6:30 p.m. at the Lebanon Memorial Park bandstand. The Lebanon Area Boys and Girls Club hosts the pre-teen Almost Anything Goes contest starting at 6 p.m. Saturday, June 28.
• RadioMom Fourth of July Parade: More than 100 units are expected to participate in the annual parade, sponsored this year by RadioMom. More than 10,000 people — with some estimates at more than 20,000 — line the parade route to see floats, bands and other favorites. The parade starts at 2 p.m. at the Lebanon High School parking lot.
• Fireworks: The Fourth of July would not be complete without fireworks, and this year's estimated 22-minute show begins around 10 p.m. at Lebanon Middle School.
• Concerts:
  • Four performers are part of this year's Fourth of July concert schedule at Lebanon Memorial Park. All concerts start at 7 p.m. at the Lebanon Memorial Park bandstand.
    • Phillip Steven and the Open Road — a country music act — begins the concert series Tuesday, June 24.
    • Marc Imboden, a Christian music artist, performs Thursday, July 3.
    • Blonde Sonja, featuring rock music, wraps up the festival on Saturday, July 5.
    • The Lebanon Fire Department Auxiliary will host the Flying Toasters, a band featuring classic rock tunes, on Friday, June 27.
  • The Boone County Community Band also will perform 6 p.m. Tuesday, July 1, near the Lebanon Memorial Park shelter house.
• The Poor Jacks Carnival also returns to Lebanon for a 6-day engagement beginning Monday, June 30 through Saturday, July 5. Various rides and games will be featured at the carnival at Lebanon Memorial Park.

The Fourth of July Committee works with other community groups and organizations to help schedule events in conjunction with the annual celebration.

• Contests for the Beautiful Baby, Little Miss Boone and Little Boy Boone are scheduled Saturday, June 21, at Lebanon Memorial Park. Registration for those contests occurs 9 to 10 a.m. Saturday, June 7, at Lebanon Memorial Park's small shelter.
  • Beautiful Baby contestants must be at least age 1 and no older than age 2 on July 4.
  • Little Miss Boone and Little Boy Boone contestants must be age 5 on July 4.
• Dinners: eight organizations are having dinners during the festival. See the complete schedule listing for times and dates.
• The "American Idol"-style contest — without the rude British judge — amateur singers can take to the stage Saturday, June 21, for the Re/Max Idol contest which starts at 6 p.m. at Lebanon Memorial Park's bandstand.
• Sporting events also occur on Saturday, June 21.. Both events are in Lebanon Memorial Park.
  • The Lebanon Educational Foundation Firecracker 3-on-3 basketball tournament starts at 8 a.m.
  • Later that day, the Boone County Family YMCA Sand Volleyball Tournament begins at 3 p.m.
• Community Church Service hosted by Central Christian Church on Sunday, June 29, at 10 a.m. at the Lebanon Memorial Park bandstand. Later that day, children will be decorating bikes for a chance to win the Psi Iota Xi Decorated Bicycle Contest.
• The annual Symphony at Sunset hosted by Symphony at Sunset Group Inc. and featuring the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, on Sunday, June 29. Tickets are $10, and are available from symphony members or at several local businesses starting in June. See the complete schedule listing for times and dates.

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