‘Strong family atmosphere’ event: Fireworks, food and a $10K raffle
The fields at Ben Venue Farm will be festive this Independence Day during the 17th annual Fourth of July Celebration in support of the Sperryville Volunteer Fire Department (SVFD).
Co-chair of the Fourth of July committee and longtime SVFD volunteer Gary Settle said the fire company has been planning the celebration since January. “Everyone is on the clock right now,” he said.
Settle said the committee hopes to create a “strong family atmosphere” and celebrate the Rappahannock County community.
“We want to make it personal,” Settle said. “It’s just a good, solid, family-atmosphere event.”
Fireworks show at last year’s event. (File Photo/Ireland Hayes)
Gates open at 2 p.m. that Friday with plenty to keep families entertained until the fireworks begin. Live music from JunkFood Trio will set the tone for an afternoon packed with local food, kids’ rides and games, antique tractor displays, face painting, moon bounces and a helicopter on site.
The evening’s big moment — in addition to the fireworks— comes at 9 p.m., when organizers will draw the winning ticket in a $10,000 cash raffle. The fireworks display will start shortly thereafter, usually around 9:15 p.m., Settle said.
This is the company’s largest fundraiser of the year, and Settle said proceeds go directly to operating costs and equipment for the station.
“Every dollar that we raise is going back into the fire department with regards to equipment,” Settle said.
“If a truck is aging, we try to pre plan for that, we try to get grants. But obviously, there’s no grant out there that pays 100% to buy and equip a truck. So this fundraiser here helps support that and the maintenance of our building, and all those hidden costs that you run across now in a fire department,” he said.
“We try not to go to the county to ask them to help us — we’re not bashful — but we know we have to play a role in helping fund and keep our fire department thriving at a high level,” he said.
Settle said the event would not be possible without support from the community, and said special thanks goes out to the Eastham family, host of the event at Ben Venue farm.
Celebrating Independence Day in Rappahannock
When: Friday, July 4. Gates open at 2 p.m.; fireworks around 9:15 p.m.
Where: Ben Venue Farm
General admission: $30 per vehicle
Tailgating spots: Available for $60.
Sponsorships: Event sponsors will receive infield parking and recognition in event promotions. $500 sponsorship payments are due by June 15, and after that, sponsorship tent prices rise to $600. Anyone interested in becoming a sponsor or underwriter can email [email protected].
If the weather doesn’t cooperate: Rain date is Saturday, July 5. More information can be found on the Sperryville Volunteer Fire Department’s Facebook page.
What about the annual concert in Washington? The Celebrate America Concert, led by Col. John Bourgeois, will be Saturday, July 5, at Avon Hall in Washington, from 4-8 p.m. Music starts at 6 p.m. More coverage to come.
