Green Bay plans more, bigger festivities for USA's 250th birthday

Green Bay officials announced plans for a bigger Fourth of July celebration this year to commemorate the nation's 250th birthday .

Civic and business leaders on April 24 took part in a ceremonial planting of a Princeton elm, the Liberty Tree, on Arbor Day next to the Neville Public Museum. They listed off a lineup of events planned from the morning through the night on July 4, emphasizing activities for the entire family. Several new programs and changes to long-standing events will accommodate what officials hope will be a day that brings even larger numbers to the city's largest annual festivity, which historically sees tens of thousands downtown .

"This is obviously a big one," Mayor Eric Genrich said. "It's 250, and so we're ultimately taking the opportunity to bring in more people downtown."

Here's what's been announced so far for July 4.

The Stars and Strides on the Fox four-mile run

The day will start early with running.

"Something that is lacking in the community this holiday is a run," said Allie Thut-Connelly, owner of the event planning business Golden Made Events . "So we thought a great way to bring everyone down earlier in the day to enjoy all these celebrations is a four-mile run."

Billed as the Stars and Strides on the Fox, with the fitness nonprofit GRIT 920 , the four-mile run along portions of the Fox River Trail will begin at 9:30 a.m., starting and ending at Dousman Street in front of Leicht Memorial Park.

A second run geared toward kids will start at 10:30 a.m. It will also begin in front of Leicht Park with runners crossing the Main Street bridge, then turning around to finish the half-mile course, according to Connelly.

Both runs require sign-ups to participate. The four-mile run costs $30, with prices increasing after May 22. The half-mile one costs $10. Registration is available at runsignup.com .

An opening ceremony with the Oneida Nation, U.S. citizenship

A ceremony at Leicht Park will immediately follow the runners at 10 a.m., officially kicking off the city's celebrations.

Among events as of April 24, singers from Southwest High School will perform the national anthem; Green Bay's first poet laureate will read a poem; and the brass ensemble of the Weidner Philharmonic will play.

The Oneida Nation will send representatives to reflect on their participation in the Revolutionary War , as well as smoke dancers to perform.

There will be a naturalization ceremony for those becoming U.S. citizens.

A drumline is expected to close out the ceremony.

A 250-person American flag quilt, enhanced farmers market

The two business districts dedicated to downtown Green Bay have added and altered programming from previous years for the Fourth of July.

Downtown Green Bay Inc. has already started a large-scale quilting project led by local artist Laura Schley. The project, "We the People: A Community Quilt for 250 Years," will end in an unveiling of a 250-patch quilt resembling an American flag, which will later be turned into a vinyl mural to be displayed downtown. Each patch will have been designed by a community member.

Patches must be returned by May 15 to the ADRC Grounded Café, 300 S. Adams St.; the NWTC Artisan Center, 1417 Cedar St.; or the Brown County Central Library, 515 Pine St.

Materials are available for pickup at the above locations, too.

The Saturday Farmers Market will have some added flair. Mascots of Uncle Sam and an eagle will be at the food court, according to Kennedy Corpus, digital media manager for Downtown Green Bay. A cheer zone will be set up to encourage runners along the Fox River, Corpus said. And a band playing bluegrass music will perform from 9-11:30 a.m., Corpus said.

Several firsts for Fire Over the Fox

The city's signature Fire over the Fox , presented by Festival Foods, will see a bigger showcase of its usual family-friendly activities.

Brian Johnson, executive director of On Broadway , said there will be not one, but two rounds of performances on the Fox River by the Waterboard Warriors , meant as an opportunity for families to "come down and enjoy the waterfront."

Vendors, who showcase their products during On Broadway's other events , will also be available on July 4 for the first time, Johnson said.

A kids zone will also be expanded from previous years, according to Johnson.

Jesse Lin is a reporter covering the community of Green Bay and its surroundings, as well as politics in northeastern Wisconsin. He also writes a weekly column answering questions about Green Bay. Contact and send him questions at 920-834-4250 or jlin@usatodayco.com .

This article originally appeared on Green Bay Press-Gazette: Green Bay July 4 events for America's 250 birthday bigger than before