Kids watch fireworks from the back of a Carr Township Volunteer Fire Department firetruck during the Fourth of July celebration in 2021 at the Medora Town Park.
Zach Spicer | The Tribune
MEDORA — Medora Pentecostal Church planned to move its services to the town park to celebrate the Fourth of July in 2021.
Faythe Gill, the church’s administrative assistant, said they expected nearly 150 people to attend.
The Carr Township Volunteer Fire Department, however, estimated more than 700 people were there.
“So this year, we’re planning for a few more,” Gill said, laughing. “We’ve got an awesome event planned.”
The second Medora Community Freedom Celebration starts at 4 p.m. Sunday at the park at First and George streets and will feature vendors, food trucks, concessions, games, a truck show, a touch-a-truck, live music, pony rides, medical helicopters, fireworks and more.
Everything is free except for purchases from the food trucks and vendors and the pony rides.
Along with four food trucks, White’s Pizza will serve pizza from the concession stand, and Medora Pentecostal Church will have free concessions.
The pony rides cost $8 and will be on the infield at the ball field.
In the outfield, a new event, touch-a-truck, will be set up. Participants will include area police and fire departments, Bundy Brothers and Sons Inc., Drop Tine Excavations LLC, Salem Wrecker Service, AB Transport, Hoosier Hosers and Indiana Department of Natural Resources Law Enforcement.
“They can actually get in and tour and touch,” Gill said. “At the start of the event, for the first hour, it’s going to be horns and sirens, so anybody that gets in can blow the horn.”
IU Health LifeLine and St. Vincent StatFlight medical helicopters will land at 5 and 6:30 p.m., respectively, in the grassy lot next to the nearby Medora Masonic Lodge 328 for people to check out. They will be there weather and need permitting.
The truck show will have eight large trucks for people to view. They also can cast a vote for best in show by making a donation. The owner of the one raising the most money will be recognized, and the money will be split between the Medora police and fire departments.
“As far as we can, we’re making everything free, but that’s a way people can actually be involved and contribute to it,” Gill said.
That goes along with the church honoring all police officers, firefighters, emergency medical technicians, paramedics and other first responders during the event.
“When we had our debrief meeting after last year’s event, we saw the promise or the potential of this event just getting larger each year, and we decided then that we wanted to focus on a different group each year and pay them honor,” Gill said. “Our first ones that came to mind for this year were our police officers, our firefighters, our EMTs and first responders.”
They have a difficult job, and in Medora, many of them serve on a volunteer basis, Gill said.
“We wanted to bless them the best we could and pay them honor,” she said.
The church will have three entertainment sets during the event, and for the last one, the first responders will be honored.
“They don’t have to be from Medora. They can be from anywhere,” Gill said. “We’re going to pay them special recognition and have a small gift to present to them. We’re going to allow them to introduce themselves to the audience and just let them know we appreciate them.”
The event also will include games and giveaways for all ages, and people are encouraged to bring their own lawn chairs. Since it’s a family-friendly event, organizers ask no alcohol be brought to the event.
At sundown, the celebration will conclude with a large fireworks show. Again this year, a couple of church members will light the fireworks.
Anyone interested in making a donation to help with the cost of the fireworks may do so online at venmo.com/u/medorachurch.
If you go
What: Medora Community Freedom Celebration
When: 4 p.m. to sundown Sunday
Where: Medora Town Park at First and George streets
Who: All ages are invited to this family-friendly event
Cost: Free admission
Details: Games, concessions, live music, touch-a-truck, truck show, medical helicopters, food trucks, vendors, pony rides and fireworks (only costs will be purchases from food trucks, vendors and pony rides)
Information: facebook.com/events/1312523016200113