Fireworks at Lyndon Saddle Club, up close and personal. File photo.

Osage Countians will have a chance to celebrate their independence all over the county on the Fourth of July. The festivities include community fireworks displays in Lyndon, Overbrook and Osage City, along with fun activities all day long.

Lyndon

Lyndon, which has become renowned for its July 4th celebration over the past few years, continues its day of fun this year, starting off with a Lions Club pancake feed 7-10 a.m. at the Lyndon Community Center. Patriotic breakfast is followed at 10:30 a.m. with the patriotic parade on Topeka Avenue in downtown Lyndon.

Parade entrants are encouraged to contact Lyndon City Hall at 785-828-3146 or email lyndonkspride@gmail.com to register in advance. Line-up begins at 9:45 a.m. Walking groups and non-motorized entries should meet at the Lyndon Library; motorized and equestrian entries should gather behind Lyndon High School. Parade route will be on Sixth Street to Topeka Avenue, north to City Park. All kinds of entries are welcomed, including bicycles, wagons, floats, cars, tractors, horses and more.

Following the parade will be a community picnic 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m. at City Park. The Lyndon community will host a free watermelon feed. Families are invited to bring their own picnic baskets or purchase lunch cooked up by the Masons.

Picnicking fun continues into the afternoon with games and prizes 11:45 a.m.-2 p.m., sponsored by Lyndon Pride. The city of Lyndon also provides a way for everyone to cool off on a hot July 4 – the swimming pool is open for all for free swimming 1-6 p.m.

And of course for the Lyndon celebration’s finale, a spectacular fireworks display hosted by Osage County Fire District No. 5 will light up the county seat and the center of Osage County. Fireworks launch point will be at Lyndon Saddle Club Arena north of the city. Parking is available at the arena, or the display can be seen from anywhere in the immediate vicinity.

Overbrook

The popular annual Overbrook Independence Day Celebration will again be held this July 4, with fireworks at dusk at the City Lake at Jones Park. The day’s celebration begins at 10:30 a.m. with the children’s bike parade. Children are invited to decorate their bikes and meet at the old middle school. Free hot dogs and drinks will be served to kids who participate in the parade. (Families are asked to bring a plate of treats to share.) Planning for hot weather, the Overbrook pool will be open from 1-5 p.m. for kids and adults to swim free.

As evening arrives, everyone is invited to City Lake for food, fun, and fireworks, 6-10 p.m. There will be food, drinks, music, and more. Fireworks will begin around 10 p.m. Remember that discharge of fireworks is prohibited on public property. In case of rain, the celebration will be Friday, July 5.

Overbrook Pride, the local fire department, Overbrook Historical Society and other local groups are hosts for the annual community event.

Osage City

At Osage City, the Osage City Chamber of Commerce has a day of activities planned to make for a busy Fourth of July celebration.

The day begins at 8 a.m. with a youth fishing tournament in Huffman Park. All young fishermen are invited. Starting at the same time will be a disc golf tournament at the Osage City ball diamonds; entry fee required; tournaments will go until 3 p.m. At 10 a.m. a free disc golf clinic will be offered.

Around 6 p.m., bounce houses will be open in Jones Park near the basketball court. Food vendors will set up near the 4-H pavilion, while the Lions Club will serve pie, ice cream and floats as a fundraiser for the club. Pomona Masons will be serving up funnel cakes.

The hosts of the event, the Chamber, will offer a free watermelon feed at the Osage City Community Building in Jones Park. Chamber members will also man carnival games including such fun as quarter bingo, firecracker walk, and face painting. For the competitors, there will be a sack race and bocce ball tournament.

Awaiting the fireworks, the summer evening will be filled with the live music of the Lizard People, who will give a free concert at the Fredrickson Arena. Around 10 p.m. the fireworks will start. About anywhere in Jones Park, the football stadium or the surrounding area is a good place for setting up lawn chairs and viewing the fireworks.

July 3, 2019

Anyone wanting to start celebrating early is also invited to Grace Community Church’s Freedom Festival 2019, with a picnic beginning at 6 p.m. Wednesday, July 3. The church’s men’s ministry is hosting a program, talent show and fireworks. The event is free and open to the public at the church, 310 E. Eighth St., Overbrook.