CALVERT CITY, Ky. — For decades, Calvert City has celebrated Independence Day with an event known as Ameribration.
Generally held on July 4, the community wide event hosts a plethora of local arts and crafts vendors; food trucks; live music; a parade; and of course, a fireworks display.
The 2024 event was postponed to July 5 due to the storms predicted for July 4. The postponement resulted in the cancellation of some musicians, as well as a cornhole tournament and a petting zoo. However, the community turned out in full force to support the vendors that set up on Friday.
The event kicked off at 3 p.m. with the vendors market, food stands, and inflatables for the children. Calvert City’s Director of Marketing, Communications, and Business Development Blair Travis said that watching the community come together has long been her favorite part of the annual event.
“It's kind of like a homecoming,” said Travis. “So, people that you haven't seen in a long time, they all kind of come together during this timeframe. It really is like a big family reunion. It's probably my favorite part about Ameribration.”
The Ameribration Parade features the 2024 Miss Ameribration Gavin Grimes.
The parade was themed “Party Like it’s 1776,” and included floats from a multitude of local businesses and community organizations, one of which was shaped like a cake; as well as Miss Ameribration, who was crowned in a pageant on June 24 and several other local pageant queens.
Leading the parade was Grand Marshal Thomas “Sprout” Davis, a World War II veteran who turned 100 on July 2. According to a June 5 press release, Davis is a lifelong Calvert City resident, and he credits his long life to “Calvert Water.”
Grand Marshall Thomas "Sprout" Davis was selected as Grand Marshal for the event. Davis is a WWII veteran and turned 100 on July 2.
Families lined the sidewalks of Fifth Avenue, sharing a tradition with their children that many of them have participated in for most of their lives.
Savanah Driver brought her stepchildren Ella and Parker to the parade. Savanah said she has come to the Ameribration parade since she was a child. Ella and Parker were most excited for the candy they expected to be thrown during the parade.
The local Masonic Lodge hosted a kids parade, where children had the opportunity to ride their bicycles and scooters around a paved trail in Memorial Park.
While the storms held off on the fourth, Savanah said she was still glad the event was moved to the fifth.
“I’m so happy that it was today instead of yesterday; it’s so much cooler,” said Savanah.
After the parade, a variety of activities were put on to give the community the opportunity to continue socializing while waiting for the fireworks to begin at dusk. The local Masonic Lodge sponsored a kids' parade, where the children were given the opportunity to take their bicycles and scooters around a path through memorial park.
Following the parade, festival goers of all ages descended upon the booth offering free watermelon.
The amphitheater held live music from the local band De’ Ja’ Blues, and free watermelon was available to cool off.
Local band De' Ja' Blues offered live music at the Memorial Park Amphitheatre between the parade and fireworks.
But as the sun began to set, families made their way across the street to take their seats for the main event — the annual fireworks display.
