Ramona celebrates 4th redneck style
Staff writer
It doesn’t get more redneck than the annual Redneck in Ramona celebration July 4.
This will be the 11th year for a day when people celebrate the freedom to live as redneck as they choose, parading the street wearing redneck outfits, racing their lawnmowers through an obstacle course, eating pie, carving spam creations, dancing to music, and watching fireworks.
Activities planned for the day include:
8 a.m.: Redneck run/walk follows a two-mile course starting and finishing at 4th and D Sts. Advance registration date has passed, but participants can register the day of the event for $15 for adults and $10 for 12 and younger.
8 a.m. to 10 a.m.: Country breakfast of biscuits and gravy along with other “fixins,” as the rednecks say. Breakfast will be served at the firehouse on D St.
11 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Downtown lawn art contest for kids 8 to 16. As many as four can compete as a team using spray paint to decorate grass. Prizes will be awarded.
11:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.: Water bounce house slide.
11:30 a.m.: Redneck game area opens downtown.
Noon: Flame Chaser barbecue serves hot dogs, hamburgers and other grilled items along with chips and drinks at the firehouse on D St. The Snow Barn will served shaved ice and drinks in city park until 5 p.m., then move downtown for evening festivities.
1 p.m.: James Weber Memorial Basketball Tournament at the city park. A 3-on-3 competition, age categories are 1st to 6th grade, 7th to 9th grade, high school, and adults. Entry costs $15 per team. Half the money raised will be used for prizes and half will go to the James Weber Memorial Scholarship fund.
1 p.m.: Craft vendors open.
4 p.m.: Lawnmower obstacle course.
5 p.m.: Parade registration opens at 3rd and D St.
6 p.m.: Parade begins.
Prizes for the parade are: foats, $75 and $50; walk and run, $25 and $15; wheels, $60 and $40; best in show, $150; best in redneck: $100; and best in patriotic: $100.
The parade will be followed by a pie-eating contest for kids and Spam carving contest for adults. A street dance will feature Clearview band.
Fireworks will begin at dark. No alcohol will be sold, but coolers can be brought to the festival.