4th of July celebrations 'blast' off in Bessemer

BESSEMER - Bessemer's 4th of July celebrations are set to begin today with the city's sixth annual Tree of Honor Lighting Ceremony at 7 p.m. in the pocket park on Sophie Street.

Each year the ceremony plants a new tree to light as a way to honor those who served in the armed forces, explained Kathy Whitburn, secretary of the Bessemer 4th of July committee.

"It's a way of honoring our veterans, past and present, for giving of their time and service to all of us," Whitburn said. "So we honor them by doing a tree lighting ceremony."

"Bessemer Blast" organizers are incorporating a new angle for this year's festivities with the launch of a Bessemer 4th of July digital app. Among the app's features - which Whitburn explained can be downloaded from iTunes or Google Play - is it allows users to participate in the city's inaugural "selfie challenge," which has festival-goers upload selfies into 10 different categories in an attempt to win prizes for the best shots.

The categories are: best selfie with Bessemer landmark, best selfie of someone participating in a 4th of July event in Bessemer, best selfie with a Marty Goldenaire, best selfie with a 50/50 ticket seller, best selfie in front of a Bessemer business, the most people in a selfie, best selfie showing 4th of July spirit, best selfie showing off a favorite 4th of July food, best parade selfie, and best fire works selfie.

Participants can enter as many categories as they want as many times as they want, and Whitburn said there is a special prize for those who enter all 10 categories.

Winners will receive gift certificates to the Bessemer Chamber of Commerce's new 49911 Trading Post.

Whitburn said winners will be chosen after the week of festivities ends and they will be notified via the app, as well as, the committee's Facebook page.

The festivities are known to attract visitors from around the country, Whitburn said, who appreciate the sense of community that Bessemer puts on display during the celebration.

"The biggest thing is our community envelopes it, and not only our direct community here, but also our tourism industry envelopes it. People come from all over the country to celebrate the Bessemer 4th of July here," said Whitburn, adding that anywhere from 8,000 to 15,000 people attend festivities. "They come because they love it, it's just a family oriented, hometown 4th of July celebration."

There are several new events - including a life-sized beer pong competition - joining classic favorites such as the Thunder on the Mountain fireworks display and the parade, ensuring that there will be something for everyone, Whitburn said.

"We have something for every age group and every family, and most everything is free. There is very little that you have to actually pay for," Whitburn said.

"It's just a good way to show some pride in our community and bring some people to the U.P. and see what we have to offer."

Among the events during the festival are:

Friday, June 26

- 7 p.m., Tree lighting ceremony, pocket park on Sophie Street.

Saturday, June 27

- 8:30 a.m., Annual hometown run/walk and tot trot, Bessemer City Hall.

- 10 a.m., Kids games, pocket park on Sophie Street.

- 11 a.m., Pony rides and petting zoo, pocket park on Sophie Street.

- 1 p.m., Mud runs, pit on North Moore Street.

Sunday, June 28

- 8:30 a.m., Worship in the park, Bluff Valley Park.

- 2 p.m., Polka dance, Bessemer VFW.

Monday, June 29

- 7 p.m., Outdoor electronic dart tournament, Sophie Street.

Tuesday, June 30

- 6 p.m., Fat Tire bike tour, Bluff Valley Park.

- 8 p.m., 1/2 New Year's Party, Sophie Street.

Wednesday, July 1

- 6 p.m., Outdoor life-size beer pong, Sophie Street.

- 6 p.m., A variety of outdoor games with food and drink, Sophie Street.

- 7 p.m., Marty's Goldenaires practice in the street.

Thursday, July 2

- 1 p.m., Local motorized talent showoff, Bessemer Commons.

- 4 p.m., Reciting of the Declaration of Independence and historical walk through town.

- 6 p.m., Domino fall, A.D. Johnston High School gymnasium.

- 6 p.m., Blackout dance party, Sophie Street.

- 6:30 p.m., Chalk drawing competition, Sophie Street.

- 7 p.m., Outdoor children's dance, Sophie Street.

- 7 p.m., War tournament, Sophie Street.

- 7:30 p.m., Water balloon toss, Sophie Street.

- 9 p.m., Karaoke, Sophie Street.

Friday, July 3

- 9 a.m., 3-on-3 basketball tournament, downtown.

- 5 p.m., Street bowling, Sophie Street.

- 6 p.m., Bessemer High School band performs in the street.

- 6:30 p.m., Simon Says, Sophie Street.

- 7 p.m., Sling shot water balloon launch, Sophie Street.

- 9 p.m., Sreet dance, Sophie Street.

Saturday, July 4

- 6 a.m., Poncho's Memorial Salute, Massie Field.

- 9:30 a.m., Family games and race, Massie Field.

- 1:30 p.m., Children's parade - line up at 1 p.m., City Hall.

- 2 p.m., Bessemer Volunteer Fire Department open house, Fire Hall.

- 5:15 p.m., Bah Studios dance showcase, Sophie Street.

- 5 p.m., Parade line up, register at Bessemer VFW.

- 6 p.m., Bessemer High School marches parade route, Iron and Sophie streets.

- Prior to the parade, Memory Lane Car Cruise, parade route.

- 7 p.m., Bessemer's Giant 4th on July Parade on Galena, Moore, Colby, Sophie and Silver streets.

- Last float in parade, 50/50 winner announced.

- 9:10 p.m., Marty's Goldenaires concert, Massie Field.

- 10 p.m., Thunder on the Mountain fireworks display.

50/50 tickets will be on sale and both a poker run and Bessemer Geocache Dash will be held throughout the festivities. Last year's 50/50 prize was $28,338.

For more information on the celebration, visit Bessemer4th.com.