Blue Grass Ruritans’ Parade and Lawn Party On July 4th

America’s birthday is upon us, and that means it’s once again time for the Blue Grass Ruritans’ Annual 4^th of July Parade and Lawn Party. Club president Doris Jean Folks gave us more detail about the event.

“The 4^th of July Party started at my house, and I had it at my house for many years, and then we decided to take it to the Ruritan Building when it got too large to have here, and then, just two or three years ago, I turned it over to the Ruritan Club.

“The parade begins at 5:00 – it only takes about five minutes and it’s over with. But everybody enjoys it, and the Lawn Party begins immediately thereafter. We’re going to have french fries, hot dogs, hamburgers, BBQ with slaw. And, truly the Ruritans, it’s a labor of love for us to work on the 4^th of July, because we feel like we’re repaying back some to the community for supporting us all the time.”

There will also be live entertainment this year.

“We have Joseph Hott, and the Short Mountain Boys. They start performing, I think, at 7:00 and they’ll perform for an hour, and take a short intermission and then perform again.

“I was up at the Highland County Fair when they had just performed up there, and several people walked up to me and told me they really liked them and told me I should try to get them for the 4^th of July, so I talked to them right then and there, and they’re going to be here.

The musicians will be performing on the newly constructed pavilion behind the Ruritan Building, which has been upgraded with extra amenities to make it even more useful for functions ranging from family reunions to wedding receptions.

“Just this year we had electricity installed, and we have water. We’ve worked hard this year to get everything so that it will be more equipped for people to use when they want to rent it.

A commercially approved kitchen is also available in the main building, which can be rented for a fee, at this time, use of the pavilion is available for a free will donation.

The Blue Grass Ruritan Building is also the location of one of Highland’s newest businesses, as Ms. Folks explained.

“We have iMade3D, it is a 3-D printing company, and the owner is Ladi Goc. And we’re thankful that he’s down there, and I think he has five or six people employed now, so we’re thankful for that.”

Stay tuned to Allegheny Mountain Radio for more on iMade3D.