Celebration is more than just fireworks

Warren Higgins will celebrate part of July Fourth while up in the air.

Today, the Woodcliff resident plans to fly a vintage Piper J3 Cub, the type used for training pilots during the 1940s.

Higgins will be among pilots flying pre-1950s aircraft that will soar over the Fremont area as part of a pre-show for the Fourth of July fireworks display at Christensen Field. The pre-show, which starts at 7:45 p.m., also is expected to include a couple of skydivers bringing the stars and stripes down into Fremont Municipal Airport.

Higgins said he will take off from the airport and fly toward Timberwood Lake to the Boy Scout camp at Cedar Bluffs and back down the Platte River toward Valley View and Woodcliff and then across town and to the airport for a landing.

Higgins said the plane he will fly is a two-seater with a maximum speed of 65 mph. Besides being used for training pilots, these planes also were used for crop dusting, delivering newspapers in the winter and shooting coyotes.

"They fly very slow and you’re able to observe a lot of things, unlike a lot of planes that fly fast and high, and you can observe wildlife," he said.

Higgins, a flight instructor and commercial pilot, said he’s participating in the show to support the community and the true meaning of the holiday.

"Flying is a freedom," he said.

A host of other activities are planned today in Fremont and throughout the region. They include:

n A festival. Full Life Assembly of God Church, 1785 W. 23rd St., is planning its Second Annual Freedom Funfest, starting at 5 p.m.

The public is invited to the event, which will include free hot dogs, non-alcoholic beverages, popcorn and snow cones (for as long as they last), an inflatable obstacle course with a slide, a dunk tank and a water balloon game.

A DJ will play music and give away a host of prizes - from haircuts to oil changes and meals. A short drama also is planned.

The McKeighan Band will play starting at 8 p.m.

Area residents are invited to sit in the church parking lot in view of the fireworks. Some chairs will be available, but spectators are encouraged to bring their own chairs.

No alcoholic beverages will be allowed anywhere on church premises.

n A quartet. The Calvary Echoes Quartet will perform at 6 p.m. Saturday at Church of the Nazarene, 960 Johnson Road. The public is invited. There is no cost to attend; a freewill offering will be accepted. The quartet has been singing southern gospel for 27 years.

n July Fourth in Hooper. The town has an entire day of festivities that includes a car show, parade and fireworks.

A car show is planned from noon to 4 p.m. on Main Street.

The parade starts at 6 p.m. at the church and ends at the park. An ice cream social will be held immediately following the parade at the city auditorium. Boy Scout Troop 164 will have a food stand on Main Street and then move to the park after the parade. Other food vendors will be in the area.

The Logan View FFA will host a labor auction at 7 p.m. at the auditorium.

Fireworks start at dusk at the city park.

n Lyons 125th anniversary, July Fourth and bluegrass festival. A parade is set to start at 5 tonight. A barbecue will begin at 6 p.m. in the Brink Park shelter.

Bluegrass music starts at 8 p.m. at the ball field with fireworks at dusk.