Boonville may not be having a city-sponsored Fourth of July event this year, but there are plenty of other places in the Boone’s Lick to celebrate the nation’s independence.

Bunceton
Bunceton will hold their annual Bunceton Days beginning tonight and going through the Fourth of July. The baby contest will begin at 6 p.m. tonight, with the prince and princess contest following at 7 p.m. Both are at Bunceton School. The street dance will be held from 8 p.m. to midnight tonight downtown with a live DJ and bounce house for children.

On Saturday, the Rural Fire Dept. will hold a bake sale in the Rural Fire building beginning at 8 a.m. At 10 a.m. the pet contest will begin at Bunceton City Park. The Boy Scouts will serve dinner from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the school

cafeteria. At 3 p.m. people will line the streets as the parade begins.  Following the parade, there will be kids’ games, turtle and frog races and a pedal pull at the ball field. At 5 p.m. the Summer Ball League will hold a pork dinner. And at dusk, the main attraction will light up the night when fireworks begin at the ball field.

Pilot Grove
Pilot Grove will be lit up tonight when Katy Manor shoots off their fireworks display. The show will start at dawn and people are invited to bring their lawn chairs. Watermelon and soda will be served.

Glasgow
In Glasgow, there will be free ferry rides. On Saturday, July 4 and Sunday, July 5 MoDOT will offer free ferry service on the Missouri River. The free trip is being offered as a special incentive to encourage visitors to visit Glasgow, ride the ferry and see how the new bridge is coming along. The ferry runs from 6:30 in the morning until 6:30 in the evening, seven days a week.

Fayette
Fayette is hoping to entice people with the second annual Fun and Fabulous 4th and Fireworks. Guests are invited to bring their lawn chair and enjoy a day of fun at the Fayette City Park. Festivities begin at 10 a.m. and include food, entertainment, a parade and lots of fun activities for the whole family. The event will end with patriotic music and fireworks at dusk.

Arrow Rock
Arrow Rock’s Fourth of July Impromptu Parade has been delighting townsfolk and visitors for more than 20 years. The tradition continues this year when the National Historic Landmark village kicks off its July 4 festivities with a parade down Main Street at 2 p.m. The Impromptu Parade, as the name implies, is open to anyone who wants to participate. There is very little organization and no entry fee or prizes.

All parade participants are invited to gather at the west end of Main Street (near the Old Schoolhouse) at 1:45 p.m., and at 2 p.m. they will march to the east end, led by the Arrow Rock Fire Department and the DAR color guard carrying a hand-crocheted American flag. What follows is an array of decorated bikes, lawnmowers, costumed pets, antique cars, tractors, and the traditional kazoo band (open to anyone, kazoos provided).

Visitors are invited to stay in town after the parade to enjoy music on the boardwalk provided by Faith’s Journey from St. Louis and/or to play a round of Outlaw Croquet and other lawn games. For reasons unknown, croquet was banned in Arrow Rock in the 19th century and the law was never overturned. Law-breaking croquet players could be cited by a town official.  Play at your own risk! Other attractions available that day include the Arrow Rock State Historic Site Museum (open 9-5), a tram golf cart tour of the village (offered July 4 at 10-11:30 a.m., 3 p.m.), lunch or a treat at one of the Arrow Rock eateries, shopping at one of the town’s unique shops, and hiking on the Pierre a Fleche trail.

The old-fashioned holiday celebration culminates with a fireworks display at the west end of Arrow Rock’s Main Street at 9:15 p.m. Bring lawn chairs.

Arrow Rock is located 14 miles north of I-70 at Exit 98 on Highway 41. In 2006, the National Trust for Historic Preservation named Arrow Rock one of its Dozen Distinctive Destinations, and in 2008, First Lady Laura Bush named Arrow Rock a Preserve America community. Find more on the Web at www.arrowrock.org.

Rocheport
The City of Rocheport has slated the dedication of Pocket Park for 10 am on Saturday, July fourth following their annual parade. The public is invited to attend this ceremony to honor community activists Jack and Marge McDermott and commemorate the efforts put forth by volunteers during the Flood of ’93. A sculpture by Peggy Guest memorializing the McDermotts will be unveiled at the ceremony. This park is located on First and Central Street in the city of Rocheport. Included in the ceremony will be speakers Rocheport’s Mayor John Zondca, City Councilman Joe Wolfe, and Peggy Guest.

For more information, contact amber@boonvilledailynews.com