Sunday is Celebrate Clinton's Independence Day celebration. This will be the first of what is hoped by organizers as many installments of the Independence Day celebration put on by Celebrate Clinton.

A wide variety of activities are scheduled throughout the day. The day kicks off with the Tour DeWitt Bicycle ride. Registration begins at 6 am and the scheduled start is 7:30, however, Sissy Leggett with Celebrate Clinton explains upon registration, bikers have the option to begin on one of the three routes they have available.

[audio:independencedayclinton1.mp3]A Word From Leggett[/audio]

The festivities kick off at 11 am and activities throughout the day include balloon artists, face painting, live music and several food vendors. There will also be traditional Independence Day activities such as a pie eating contest, which begins and 1 and a watermelon eating contest which takes place at 2:30. And something unique this year will be a bike decorating contest which will take place at 12:30.

One unique historical aspect to previous Independence Day celebrations in Clinton is a Bed Racing contest. Patrice Brotherton of Celebrate Clinton says the hopes is to organize to bring back the Bed Racing by introducing it once again this year.

[audio:independencedayclinton2.mp3]A Word From Brotherton[/audio]

Organizers encourage anyone to come out and see what the event is all about, admission is free, they believe it will be worth the while for the community to stop by for just a little while.

While they recognize the festival will probably start small, they hope the celebration will grow and become an annual event, attended by everyone in the community and looked forward to on a yearly basis.

[audio:independencedayclinton3.mp3]A Word From Organizers[/audio]

Perhaps one of the bigger attractions organizers believe will bring people out is the Dunk Tank. It is $1 for 3 shots to get local public figures drenched in a pool of water. Noteable figures to be up on the platform include Principal Ron Connor, DeWitt County Sheriff Jered Shofner and YMCA Executive Direct Jann Martin.

Again things kick off at 11 am Sunday and all the activities will be taking place on Mr. Lincoln Square in downtown Clinton. Anyone interested in the bike ride, registration begins at 6 am and the mass start is at 7:30. For more information about the Independence Day celebration and day of activities, you can find Celebrate Clinton on Facebook, or you can contact Sissy Leggett at the DeWitt County Friendship Center at 935-9411 or you can contact Patrice Brotherton at 935-4798.