Belmond’s July 4 celebration in 2024 will begin June 30, and the theme will be “Let’s Pool Together and Make a Splash!”
Activities begin the afternoon of Sunday, June 30 with an art show and a truck and tractor pull at the Jenison Meacham Art Center and Farm north of town on Taylor Avenue. The art show inside the museum building will run from 1-4 p.m. and feature watercolor paintings and other works by Natalie Greving of Clarion. Admission is free.
The Belmond Historical Museum will be open Wednesday and Friday from 9 a.m. to noon, Thursday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., and Sunday, July 7 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Admission is free, but donations are appreciated.
The pits at the truck and tractor pull open at 10 a.m. and the first hook will be at noon. General admission is $10, a pit pass is $20, and the hook fee is $15. Call Jordan at 515-825-8235 or Chanse at 515-408-1304 for information.
Also on Sunday will be a Miss Belmond Firecracker contest for ages 4-12 at 2 p.m. at the high school auditorium.
The next events are on Wednesday, July 3. St. Olaf Lutheran Church will hold its annual sandwich and salad luncheon at the Veterans Center downtown from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. There will be a kids' tractor pull at the Rehabilitation Center of Belmond, with registration at 3:30 p.m.
The Lyric Theater will be open Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday nights. Show time is 7:30 p.m.
July 4 activities begin with the parade at 10:30 a.m. led by Parade Marshals Deb and DuWayne Abel. The procession will begin at the elementary school, travel south on Luick’s Lane to Main Street, west on Main Street to the bank corner, and end at City Park. The Lions Club will serve a pulled pork dinner with cole slaw, potato salad, and watermelon at the fire station starting at 11:30 a.m.
A 3 on 3 basketball tournament will begin at Swimming Pool Park at 1 p.m. Other activities in the park begin at 2 p.m. and include Bingo, a cake walk, inflatables ($5), food stands, fun for kids, ambulance tours, pickleball, tennis, four-square, bags, and the skate park. (Note that the swimming pool is not open in 2024.)
A pie and ice cream social will be held at the United Methodist Church from 2-4 p.m. A brat and beef burger supper will be held at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church from 5-7 p.m.
The gate to the grandstand at the football field will open at 6 p.m. Admission is $5, with ages two and under free. Corey Waller and the Wicked Things will perform starting at 7 p.m. There will be a concession stand and a free kids' play area inside the stadium for those who pay admission. Raffle tickets will be sold early in the evening. Raffle drawings will be held throughout the evening. The fireworks start at 10 p.m. (the rain date is Friday).
Friday, July 5 activities will start with a pickleball tournament at Swimming Pool Park sponsored by the Lions Club at 8 a.m. Also, that morning will be a home run derby for kids and adults sponsored by the BCBC at the city ball field, with 9:30 a.m. registration.
Saturday events begin with a Bill Riley Talent Show at 2 p.m. at the high school auditorium. Age divisions are Spouts 2-12 and Seniors 13-21.
Downtown, there will be a hot dog eating contest at 1 p.m. with cash prizes. Register at the Corner (25 person limit). The Red, White, and Wheels antique tractor, truck, car, and bike show will run from 2-7 p.m. on Main Street. Judging will be from 3-5 p.m. Musician Royce Johns will perform from 3-6 p.m. and there will be food trucks. The Lyric Theater will have a movie at 7:30 p.m.
The Firecracker Classic 5K run/walk will begin at 7:30 p.m. at the corner of East Main and 4th Avenue. The race will be followed by entertainment.
Sunday events begin with the firemen’s pancake and omelet brunch from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the fire station. There will be a community church service across the street in City Park at 9:30 a.m. The museum downtown will be open from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Sunday afternoon there will be an open house at the Jenison-Meacham Memorial Art Center from 1-4 p.m. featuring photography by Donna Nelson. Admission is free, but donations are welcome
Raffle tickets are now on sale at Millie’s Hallmark, First State Bank, Green Belt Bank, Jaspersen Insurance, True Value, City Hall, Ramsay Boutique, and Bloemke Pharmacy. You need not be present to win. A list of prizes is available on Facebook on the Belmond 4th of July page.
Donations are being accepted to help pay for fireworks. This year the show has a budget of $20,000. Checks should be made payable to the City of Belmond and dropped off or mailed to City Hall. You may also help with the fireworks by donating empty pop and beer cans. Collection cages are set up in the True Value parking lot.
