Happy Birthday America set for July 2-4 in Staunton

Akhil Ganesh, Staunton News Leader
·3 min read

STAUNTON — Break out the red, white, and blue attire and get ready to celebrate: Staunton's Happy Birthday America celebration returns at Gypsy Hill Park this Sunday, kicking off three days of festivities.

The celebration is back for its second year in a row following a hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and a majority of the events are free. Vendors, concessions, and carnival rides will all be located in the main lot by John Moxie Memorial Stadium.

The two exceptions are the Happy Birthday American Beauty Pageant, which costs $5 for adults (free for children 12 and under), and the registration fee for the The News Leader Firecracker 5K run. Registration costs $30 and comes with a race shirt, while supplies last. Awards will be presented for the top three finishers overall for both males and females, as well as the top finisher in each age group.

For musical performances at the main stage at the baseball field, no seating will be provided. Gates will open at 6 a.m. on Tuesday for attendees to set up lawn chairs on the ball field.

Musical guests for this year include Wilson Fairchild, Kentucky Just Us, Spencer Hatcher and the Ol' Sun Gang, Jack and Davis Reid Music, and Gene Watson.

The Happy Birthday America event was founded by the Statler Brothers and has been a Staunton mainstay since 1970. In 2017, the group previously in charge of Fourth of July events in Gypsy Hill Park announced it was closing down, and organizing was turned over to Wilson Fairchild's Wil and Langdon Reid, sons of Statler Brothers Harold and Don Reid.

Parking

Per the Happy Birthday America website, visitors to the celebrations will have to use street parking in the areas surrounding the park. The organizers urge patrons to be aware of driveways and fire hydrants when finding a place to park

There will be a free handicap-accessible parking lot in the main event lot (adjacent to the dog park and Lake Tams). The lot is first-come, first-serve, and spaces are expected to fill up quickly. There is a designated "bus drop" location in the lot where handicapped patrons can be dropped off.

Happy Birthday America schedule

Sunday, July 2

  • 1 p.m. – Happy Birthday America Beauty Pageant (recreation building by golf course)

Monday, July 3

  • Noon – Vendors open for business (on the main lot)

  • 6:30 p.m. – Vesper Service begins (main stage on baseball field) - Keynote speaker: Chaplain, Lieutenant Colonel Mark Tinsley

  • 8 p.m. – Heaven's Mountain Band (main stage)

Tuesday, July 4

  • *6 a.m. – Gates open to bring in lawn chairs

  • 7:30 a.m. & 9 a.m. – Firecracker 5K run by Sole Focus (Gypsy Hill Park)

  • 10 a.m. – Parade begins (Gypsy Hill Park)

  • Noon – Main lot open with food, vendors and carnival

  • Noon – U.S. Army National Guard 29th Division Rock Band (bandstand stage)

  • 2 p.m. – Stonewall Brigade Band concert (bandstand stage)

  • 3 p.m. – Kentucky Just Us (main stage)

  • 4:30 p.m. – Spencer Hatcher & The Ol' Son Gang (main stage)

  • 6 p.m. – Jack & Davis Reid Music (main stage)

  • 7:30 p.m. – Wilson Fairchild concert (main stage)

  • 8:30 p.m: – Gene Watson concert (main stage)

  • 9:45 p.m. – Veteran salute (main stage)

  • 10 p.m. – Fireworks

—Akhil Ganesh is the Government Reporter at The News Leader. You can contact him at aganesh@newsleader.com and follow him on Twitter @akhildoesthings.

This article originally appeared on Staunton News Leader: Happy Birthday America set for July 2-4 in Staunton