The City of Monroe Parks and Recreation Department is preparing for this year’s annual July 4 celebration. Activities this year include:

● Carnival games

● Bounce Houses

● Live Entertainment

● Food Trucks

● Pony Rides

● Face painting

● Petting Zoo

● Ballgames

● Fireworks

● and more

Food and beverage stands include:

● Kona Ice

● Dano’s BBQ

● Virgin Territory Mocktails

● Knights of Columbus

● Taquizas Adelita

● Cotton Candy by Tom Deprez

The festivities will begin at 8 a.m. with the slowpitch softball tournament. Teams are still being sought for the tournament. Players must be 13 years or older to play. A maximum of eight teams will be allowed, with the deadline to register by June 29. There will be no refunds from the tournament if there is a weather cancellation. The money will go towards a batting cage at Honey Creek Park.

Carnival games will run from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. There will also be new inflatable obstacle courses and face painting by KT’s Face Painting, as well as the Lion’s Club Petting Zoo. Kiwanis Pony Rides will be from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Across town at Northeast Park, the pickleball tournament begins at 10 a.m.

The city’s Salute to 250th anniversary dedication will take place at 10:30 a.m. at the Klinzing Shelter.

The Twining Park Beer Garden will make its debut from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., with live music from Silence the Sirens in a Main Street Monroe-sponsored “Concert Slightly Off The Square”.

At 7:30 p.m., the City Band Concert will entertain guests from the amphitheater.

Lastly, the fireworks display will begin at approximately 9:30 p.m.