The Eclipse Fourth of July celebration is set

Published 6:14 pm Tuesday, June 28, 2022

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The Eclipse Fourth of July celebration is set to be the biggest yet.

In a partnership between Ebenezer United Methodist Church, Suffolk River Heritage, and the C. E. & H. Ruritans, events are planned over two days

The celebration begins from 3-6 p.m., July 3 with Chuckatuck Creek Raft Race T-shirt sales at Community Hall. This is followed at 6 p.m. by the mailbox decorating contest judging.

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A full day of activities is slated for Monday, July 4, with parade line-up getting underway from 9:45-10:15 a.m. Officials remind everyone that all bicycle parade participants are required to wear helmets. Activism of any kind will not be tolerated. The only allowable flags to be flown by parade participants are the American Flag and the Virginia State flag.

The opening ceremony is from 10:15-10:30 a.m., followed by the parade through the neighborhood from 10:30-11:30 a.m.

Food, fund, games and prizes are then planned for 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Ebenezer United Methodist Church. Activities are set to include inflatables with a water slide and an obstacle course, face painting, patriotic craft activities, race car touch and game for all ages — toddle to adult. Food will be available for sale, including hamburgers, barbecue, baked good and more.

A raffle for bikes, Q-Daddy’s gift cards and many other items is set to gear up at 2 p.m.

The fun then moves to Chuckatuck Creek at 3 p.m. for the raft race.

The evening concludes around 8:30 p.m. with fireworks, sponsored by the C.E. & H. Ruritans.

Steeped in traditional Americana, the quaint, historic waterman’s village of Eclipse has set the bar in patriotic revelry for the last 46 years and shows no sign of slowing down. Organizers say to pack up the children, hoist the old-timers out of bed, and come on down to the Chuckatuck Creek to join in the Independence Day celebration.