The Seward American Legion Post 33, VFW Post 4755 and Scout Pack 256 presented the colors to lead the parade.
Seward’s annual Fourth of July Celebration was selected to be one of the “Top 10” Fourth of July Celebrations in the USA, selected by MPA@UNC in a ranking prepared by Logan Harper, based on a series of contributing factors to compare celebrations across the nation.
The survey was completed independently.
The celebrations did not apply for the distinction or rankings, prepared by Harper at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill-School of Government. The survey was conducted to assist in the promotion of the Nation’s July 4 events, encouraging Americans to consider celebrating the nation’s founding in a family, fun-filled day every year.
The communities hosting the Top 10 July 4 Celebrations included in no particular ranking or order: Bristol, Rhode Island: The Bristol Fourth of July Celebration; Detroit, Michigan: The Windsor-Detroit International Freedom Festival; Telluride, Colorado: The Telluride Fourth of July Celebration; New York, New York: Macy’s Firework’s Show and Festival; Addison, Texas: KaBoom Town; Washington, D.C.: “A Capitol Fourth;” Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: Wawa Welcome America. Festival; Hawaii: Fourth of July-Hawaii Style; Gatlinburg, Tennessee: The Midnight Parade; Seward: “America’s Fourth of July City-Small Town USA.”
The judges’ comments on Seward included “In 1979, an act of Congress designated Seward ‘America’s Fourth of July City-Small Town USA.’ The city’s population is only about 7,000 but it grows to 50,000 attendees to partake in the classic America celebration that includes parades, pole vaulting, water fights by the firemen, an apple pie eating contest, concerts, races, antique show, craft show and many family, fun-filled activities. If you ever wanted to experience the very essence of small town America, Seward’s annual July 4 celebration should be on your radar.”
“Seward’s annual celebration is honored to be in the rankings with many of our large budget, sister celebrations,” said Austin Van Velson, Seward’s July 4 Youth Coordinator. “It is exciting to be in this category of honor and be even considered as one of the best celebrations in the nation and makes our committee want to work even harder to keep up the tradition.”
For more information on Seward’s annual July 4 Celebration visit www.JulyFourthSeward.com or contact the Seward Chamber of Commerce at (402) 643-4189.
