The 98th annual Lawncrest 4th of July celebration is set for Thursday.
The theme will be Riding Into the Future.
The festivities will begin at 9 a.m. with a parade along Rising Sun Avenue, from Martins Mill Road to the Lawncrest Recreation Center at Comly Street.
The parade grand marshals will be longtime neighborhood activists Marge Simon, Art Kramer, Peggy Kramer and Phil Grutzmacher.
The recreation center will host all the day’s activities, starting with an American flag-raising ceremony.
One of the day’s highlights will be a dunk tank, which opens at 11 a.m. The cost is three balls for $1, with proceeds going to the fireworks at dusk.
Among those who have volunteered to be dunked are Dianne Murphy, community relations officer in the 2nd Police District; Ron Pleis, scoutmaster for St. William Boy Scout Troop 563; Lawncrest Community Association president Bill Dolbow; Debra Mikus, a librarian at Lawncrest Library; the Rev. Randy Brubaker, pastor of Crescentville United Methodist Church; Brian Andrews and J.J. Pospiech, leaders at Lawncrest Recreation Center; Manny Citron, of the city managing director’s office; Corrie Brown, a coach with the Lawncrest Lions; and employees of the Shop-Rite at Oxford Avenue and Levick Street, members of Attack Mode Boxing Club and firefighters at Engine 64.
Other highlights include a flea market, car show, children’s rides, live bands, magic show, bingo, drill teams, a paintball tent and a food court.
The rain date will be Saturday, July 6.
Anyone who wants to register a classic car can contact Paul at Universal Motor Sports at 215–205–2129.
Anyone who wants to be a vendor at the flea market can call Steve Landsman at 267–467–0034.
Donations can be sent to Lawncrest 4th of July Committee, P.O. Box 24656, Philadelphia, PA 19111.
For more information, call Steve Cartledge at 215–651–8470 or Jean Pleis at 215–728–0206, or email lawncrestjuly4th@hotmail.com ••
