This year’s Coal Grove Family Fun Days will help village residents celebrate the Fourth of July with a bang.

Saturday, June 17, 2000

This year’s Coal Grove Family Fun Days will help village residents celebrate the Fourth of July with a bang.

Fun Days starts July 1 at Paul Porter Park and continues until July 3 when the village plans its annual fireworks display.

"Coal Grove’s fireworks are just as good, if not better, than any show in the area," Coal Grove Betterment Club member Juanita Markel said. "I’ve heard people comment last year and say that it was the best fireworks display they’ve seen."

But the entire fun days lineup is a party – a family party – and people from all over Lawrence County come, Mrs. Markel added.

Since mayor Tom McKnight launched it in 1976, Mrs. Markel and many others have dedicated themselves to making Fun Days an annual event.

"Tom McKnight and I went to school together and he, his wife and I have known each other all of our lives," Mrs. Markel said. "When Tom called and told me about the idea (in 1976), I thought it was great, and it went over so well that we just continued having Fun Days every year."

Mrs. Markel, a former Coal Grove village clerk, said volunteers make sure that local residents know when to leave their nine-to-five schedules behind and just enjoy themselves.

"Flyers are delivered throughout the village," she said. "We put banners across the street at Marion Pike, and we also have a marquee."

This year, some new attractions for the children should draw a crowd beyond the 500 to 1,000 people per day, Markel said.

"The kids love the raw egg toss and water balloon toss the best," she said. "They like it because of the thrill of the mess."

And there will be a lot of mess to get into this year.

"I imagine this year the favorite attraction will be the (Nickelodeon) Slimb machine," Mrs. Markel said.

This will be the first year Ironton children have a chance to get ‘Slimbed.’

Adding to the excitement will be the Coal Grove Fire Department’s games of chance, basketball toss, football throw and dunking machine.

"It’s a good feeling seeing everyone laughing and having a good time," Mrs. Markel said.

If Ironton residents want a taste of something good, Fun Days booths should entice the taste buds. Concessions include donut booths and the betterment club’s homemade ice cream sold by cone or cup.

"Everyone is like family here and we hope to see everyone up at the park having a good time," she said.

With the variety of live music scheduled for all three days, it will be difficult for someone not to have a good time, Mrs. Markel said.

Entertainment during fun days includes performances July 1 by Kayla Hall, 4 p.m.; Ignyters, 6 p.m. and the South of Heaven Band, 8:30 p.m.

July 2 features Dean and Larena Palmer, 12:15 p.m.; Lonnie Harrison, 1:30 p.m.; Shelie Stone and Beth Ball, 1:45 p.m.; David and Rhonda Pemberton, 2:30 p.m.; Tanya Hillier, 3 p.m.; John Smith, 3:15 p.m.; Mark and Missy Fields, 3:30 p.m.; Gary Fugett, 4 p.m.; Robert Slagel, 4:30 p.m.; Ray Bowling and Dreama Taylor, 6 p.m.; Kelly Greco, 6:45 p.m.; the Guyan Valley Quartet, 7:30 p.m. and Soul Cafe at 8 p.m.

July 3 highlights include Yvonne de Kay Dance Groups, 6 p.m.; Danny Cardwell Band, 6:30 p.m. and the final act will be Berbon and Co. Band at 8:30 p.m.