By Alicia Gibson

Events have been set for New Richmond’s July 4th celebrations, presented by the Village’s Fred Calaway VFW Post 6770 and Wm. Light Paving Company as “Freedom Fest 2018”.

Celebrations begin Tuesday, July 3rd with carnival rides by Kissel (kisselamusement.com), and over fifteen food and merchandise vendors to open at 5pm along Front Street. DJ Lynette “Kakes and Karaoke” Hager will spin the hot wax during the Classic Car Cruise-In, running from 5 to 9pm (enter to park at 5pm). Awards will be given for Best Car and Most Patriotic (bit.ly/2tkx8aD). No formal registration is required. For those who enjoy gaming, an area hosted by RiverDays Inc. will open at 6pm inside the VFW Post at 111 George Street.

Booths for beer and frozen drinks like margaritas and daquiris will be running street-side, and beer will also be available inside the VFW post.

July 4th, falling on a Wednesday this year, will have the rides and vendors open at noon (again, centered on Front Street and radiating out from there). As is tradition within the Village, which sits right on the Ohio River, there will be a parade and fireworks show. Parade floats will line up along Front Street beginning at 2pm for the 3pm parade. The VFW Post’s Gaming Area will open at 4pm, as live patriotic music begins at the Village Bandstand (116 Susanna Way).

Live music will continue, playing up until the 10pm fireworks over the Ohio River, in arrangement with Yokum Fireworks of Cincinnati. Ron Fletcher and Southern Edge (facebook.com/1BAND) kick things off with some Country Rock from 5-6pm, followed by singer/songwriter Noah Smith (noahsmithmusic.com) from 6:30-8pm. After a break from 8:30pm, to closing the night, party band Big Easy and the Gator Show (facebook.com/easygators) will play Rockabilly, R&B, and Funk, as well as Classics at the Village Bandstand.

Freedom Fest 2018 has no admission charge, and street parking in the Village is free. New Richmond is located directly on the banks of the Ohio River, under 15 minutes from the I-275 loop along Scenic Ohio River Byway, US Hwy 52.

In addition to street vendors, New Richmond’s year-round local eateries will have their doors open to customers.

Freedom Fest 2018 is sponsored by Sardinia Concrete (sardiniaconcrete.com), Poochie’s Place of Amelia, Payne Construction and General Contracting (payneconstruction.org), and Cody Williams.

For more information, such as parade float registration, contact [email protected], and find Freedom Fest 2018 on Facebook at @nrfreedomfest.