Easley to "Celebrate America" July 3-4

The United States of America is having a birthday next week and Easley is throwing a two-day party to celebrate.

“Celebrate America” kicks off 2pm, Wednesday, July 3 in Old Market Square, according to Scott Buckhiester with Dunburk's Premier Events.

“We'll have carnival rides, vendors, live entertainment on stage in the amphitheater,” he said.

Purchase tickets for the rides and food from the vendors, but everything else is free, Buckhiester said.

“At 5pm on the third we'll have a classic and custom car cruise-in, which will be adjacent to Old Market Square there on West 1st Avenue.”

Cruisers can check in at 5pm on July 3 at the intersection of Pendleton Street and West 1, Buckhiester said.

The festival runs from 2pm to 10pm on July 3, with the cruise-in being held from 6pm – 10pm.

Tickets for the rides are $1 each. You can purchase 25 tickets for $20. On July 3 only, you can purchase a $15 wristband between 2pm – 7pm and receive unlimited rides.

The Flashbacks will perform from 7pm – 10pm.

“On July 4, we open at 2pm again and go until 11pm,” he said. “Same thing, carnival rides, live entertainment, headliners on the stage each evening.”

Encore Band performs from 7pm until the fireworks start on July 4.

The fireworks display, one of the biggest in the Upstate, begins at 9:45pm on July 4.

The festival gets bigger every year, Buckhiester said.

“It's a huge happening,” he said. “We had an estimated 35,000 last year and we're looking for it to be more this year.”

This year's “Celebrate America” festival is sponsored by the Gilstrap Family Dealerships. Baptist Easley is sponsoring the stage on July 4.