For many of us, today is our figurative Friday as we prepare to enjoy a three-day weekend. (For those who do not get a long weekend, you have our condolences, as well as our gratitude for your work that keeps our world running.)
Independence Day will have to be celebrated a little differently this year. Many communities have made the decision to cancel or limit their Fourth of July festivities, which is fair, given the ongoing pandemic. But it sounds like Morgantown has found a way to get the most out of its July 4 celebration while still protecting the community.
On Saturday, Triple S Harley-Davidson will team up with Mylan Park to bring a variety of social-distanced events for our enjoyment.
The day will kick off at 1 p.m. with an unofficial baseball game at Mylan Park. Then that evening, from 7:30-9:30 p.m., revelers can choose to watch the family-friendly film “Doolittle” on the big screen within the Monongalia County Extension Service and 4-H Center Pavilion or they can watch a live-stream of the Davisson Brothers concert on the Track and Field Complex’s video board. The concert will also be streamed online at WKKWFM.com. Fireworks start at 9:45 p.m., launching from Anker Fields at Mylan Park. The Independence Day staple will also be streamed to the Track and Field Complex’s video board and online, same as the concert. For more info about the events, go to VisitMountaineerCountry.com/7-Ways-Celebrate-July-4th or refer to our article “CVB prepares to reopen, celebrate the Fourth” (DP-07-01-20).
The hosts of these fantastic events specifically request “groups and families congregating together contain no more than 10 people and that they maintain a distance of six feet from other groups.” In other words, if you don’t already live with them and consistently breathe their air, please maintain at least six feet of separation.
Please, please, please wear masks or face coverings if you attend any of these events — or any other events — in person. The nation saw a massive spike in COVID-19 cases in the weeks following Memorial Day, and we’d rather not see that happen again. Wearing a mask for a few hours is a small price to pay to get back a little piece of normalcy.
We have also been asked to remind Morgantown residents that setting off fireworks is illegal inside city limits. If, hypothetically, one were to discharge personal pyrotechnics, one would hopefully be kind enough to inform one’s neighbors ahead of time, so if any said neighbors have animals that get spooked by loud noises, the humans can prepare accordingly. But again, discharging fireworks inside city limits is illegal. (Hypothetically speaking, please be considerate of your furry neighbors and any human neighbors who may also have a difficult time with loud noises and bright flashes, such as those that accompany your hypothetical fireworks.)
At the risk of sounding like our parents: Have fun, but please be safe and responsible.
Happy (early) Fourth of July!
Morgantown Area News
'Thursday, April 18, 2024'
