What do you do on the Fourth of July in Waynesboro?
“You go to the Waynesboro Summer Jubilee of course,” said Holly Miler, president of the board of directors for the celebration. “I’ve lived in Waynesboro my whole life, and the Jubilee is a tradition. Growing up, my family spent the whole day there and now that I have kids, we are there,” she added.
The 28th Jubilee at 500 E. Main St. will kick off with the Kid’s 1-mile fun run at 7:30 a.m., followed by the FireCracker 5K, sponsored by Patriot Federal Credit Union, at 8 a.m. Craft and food vendors will be set up from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The parade courtesy of the Brothers of the Brush will start at 9:30 a.m. at C.V. Avenue and head east on Main Street before turning onto Broad Street and moving to Memorial Park.
“Then the fun begins,” noted Miller. “For the second year, we have a tent set up strictly for kid vendors – children under 17 selling their handmade items.” At the same time, from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., there also will be a tent featuring crafts – sand art, foam magnets and jewelry – for kids. “Each child gets one free craft, with the option of purchasing additional kits for $5 each,” according to Miller. “And we’re offering free patriotic face painting – flags and stars etc., staffed by Waynesboro Area Senior High School students.”
There will be free Inflatables sponsored by Jesus Alive Ministries of Waynesboro.
The flag raising is set for 11 a.m., followed by entertainment: Ray Owen, from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.; Mockingbird from 1 to 2:30 p.m.; Children’s Theatre Troupe from 2 to 3:30 p.m.; Nocandu from 4 to 5:30 p.m.; Center of Gravity from 6 to 7:15 p.m.; and Rich Fehle at 7:40 p.m.
“The fireworks display starts at dark,” Miller noted.
“We will have at least five baskets we are raffling off and two misting fans for people to take advantage of,” Miller said.
‘Takes a village’
“It really does take a village to put these events on, but if we don’t get the younger generation interested in volunteering and seeing what their work can do, these events will turn into nothing. I want to get their fire lit,” said Miller, a member of the Jubilee committee for the past three years and serving her first year as president.
“I want to send out a special thanks to Trish Morris, an art teacher at WASHS, who reached out to her students looking for volunteers for the face painting,” she added.
“Another way we got students involved was asking students of Bryan Hawbecker, graphic communications instructor at CareerTech in Chambersburg, to provide us with some designs for a decal that sponsors display in their windows. “Then we selected what we felt depicted the celebration the best,” a clock tower with fireworks created by Grace Simpson, Miller said. “This was a chance for them to flex their skills and give back to the community.”
The committee is looking forward to revealing the makeover of the Jubilee trailer, a source of advertisement for the celebration, according to Miller. “We had it rewrapped by American Custom Auto Care, Waynesboro. It’s very colorful and patriotic … very sentimental … with the Waynesboro clock tower. It’s just gorgeous.” Owner Codee Cook, donated a significant portion of the work, added Miller.
She encouraged runners to register for the races online prior to July 4 at:
Walk-up registrations that day also will be offered.
“We are in desperate need of flaggers for the race and the parade,” noted Miller. “We’re looking for volunteers who already have their certification as well as people who are interested in taking the training and we can plug them in for next year.
Information about the training is posted each year by Mainstreet Waynesboro and Greater Waynesboro Chamber of Commerce, according to MIller. “Flagger classes are typically offered in Waynesboro in the spring and cost $75 per person. The certification by PA Townships Association is good for three years,” she added.
“I think it’s really easy for us all to love these events and make them part of family traditions, but we can’t forget the hours volunteers donate to plan and carry out this event,” added Miller, who said she has fond memories of “hanging out at the field” with her father, the late Francis Green Jr., who helped set off the fireworks. “Being on the committee is a good way to keep his memory alive. He believed in doing things for no reason to help others out.”
To volunteer or donate, visit:
