From left Gracelyn Miller and Weston Miller and their cousins Kaitlyn Brewer and Kylie Brewer get ready to watch the 2023 Akron 4th of July parade. InkFreeNews photo by Leah Sander.

By Leah Sander
InkFreeNews

AKRON — The Akron 4th of July festival has the theme of “A Good Day” this year.

The Akron 4th of July committee chose the theme in honor of late Akron resident Joe Day. He’s posthumously the grand marshal of the parade and would respond to people who said to “have a good day” with “I am a good Day.”

Festival activities started Saturday, June 22, with voting at Lake City Bank in Akron for those in the Akron Las Donas’ Penny-a-Vote Cute Baby Contest. That voting runs through Saturday, June 29.

From 9-11 a.m. Saturday, June 29, is Young Entrepreneur Day, also at the town’s Lake City Bank branch. Kids will be selling items, with them having received $10 from the bank to start their “businesses.”

On Sunday, June 30, the winners of the Cute Baby Contest will be announced at the Akron Community Center at 5:15 p.m. Following that will be the Miss Sparkler and Mr. Firecracker competitions at 5:30 p.m. with the Miss Akron 4th of July queen contest after that.

The main day of the festival is of course Thursday, July 4.

The Henry Township Volunteer Fire Department’s firemen’s breakfast runs 7-10 a.m. at the fire station. The morning also includes the Akron Las Donas’ Firecracker 5K, with the 5K Walk at 8 a.m., the one-mile Fun Run at 8:15 a.m. and the 5K Run at 8:30 a.m.

Lineup for the parade starts at 9 a.m. at Sonoco off SR 19, with the event then running down Rochester and Mishawaka streets beginning at 11 a.m.

The day caps off with fireworks at Pike Memorial Park at 10 p.m., sponsored by the fire department.

A full list of activities is below:

Saturday, June 22-Saturday, June 29

• Voting at Lake City Bank for the Penny-a-Vote Cute Baby Contest sponsored by the Akron Las Donas Club

Saturday, June 29

• 9-11 a.m. — Young Entrepreneur Day at Lake City Bank

Sunday, June 30

• 5-7 p.m. — Akron Parent Support Group Igloo Ice Cream Social and Wheels on Fire concessions at the Akron Community Center
• 5:15 p.m. — Penny-a-Vote Cute Baby Contest winners announced at the Akron Community Center
• 5:30 p.m. — Miss Sparkler, Mr. Firecracker, Miss Akron contests at the Akron Community Center
• 7 p.m. — Quilt raffle winner announced

Monday, July 1-Wednesday, July 3

• 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. — Book sale at the Akron Public Library

Thursday, July 4

• 7-7:45 a.m. — Registration for Firecracker 5K Run/Walk and one-mile Fun Run sponsored by Akron Las Donas Club at Akron Elementary School
• 8 a.m. — 5K Walk starts at Akron Elementary School
• 8:15 a.m. — One-mile Fun Run starts at Akron Elementary School
• 8:30 a.m. — 5K Run starts at Akron Elementary School
• 7-10 a.m. — Firemen’s Breakfast sponsored by the Henry Township Volunteer Fire Department at the fire station
• 9 a.m. — Flag raising by the Fulton County Veterans Honor Guard at the fire station
• 9 a.m. — Games begin in the 3-on-3 basketball tournament at Pike Memorial Park
• 9 a.m. — Parade lineup starts at Sonoco off SR 19
• 9 a.m. — Co-ed volleyball tournament at Pike Memorial Park
• 11 a.m. — Parade along Rochester Street and Mishawaka Street
• Noon to 10 p.m. — Food and retail vendors and free inflatables at Pike Memorial Park
• 1-3 p.m. — Petting zoo and pig races at Pike Memorial Park
• 1-4 p.m. — Jim Bucher Memorial Car Show at Pike Memorial Park
• 5-9 p.m. — Free laser tag and inflatable ax throwing at Pike Memorial Park
• 7-9 p.m. — Free kids’ games at Pike Memorial Park
• 7-10 p.m. — Band Gunslinger at Pike Memorial Park
• 10 p.m. — Fireworks sponsored by the Henry Township Volunteer Fire Department at Pike Memorial Park

Friday, July 5

• 9 a.m.-6 p.m. — Book sale at the Akron Public Library