Written By Juliann Guiffre

New sponsorship has once again rescued the annual Farm Museum fireworks display.

Through the combined efforts of the Kiwanis Club, The Carroll County Times, and WTTR, AM 1470, the Farm Museum will again hold its annual July 4th Celebration. The fireworks first took place in 1976 in honor of the nation’s bicentennial.

The fireworks were not in the museum’s budget, and when the Rotary Club decided not to continue running the event, Tom Welliver and The Kiwanis Club of Westminster stepped in to take its place. Kiwanis is hoping to raise $25,000 to cover the cost of the fireworks.

The funding campaign started on Memorial Day, May 31, and mailed donations should be made out to The Carroll County Times, c/o The Fireworks. WTTR will also contribute by providing traffic reports during the day.

The celebration starts at noon. General admission is $5 for Adults, $3 for children 7-18 and seniors over 60, and free for age 6 and under.

In addition to the fireworks, which begin at 9:30 p.m., Independence Day festivities include mule drawn wagon rides, museum tours, stage entertainment, food and crafts for sale, and artisan demonstrations (tinsmiths, blacksmiths, quilters, etc).

There will also be “old-fashioned” games such as the three-legged race, egg toss, watermelon seed-spitting contest, and marbles and hopscotch for the children. The museum’s 140 acres provide ample room for picnics with food bought at the celebration or brought in separately.

The Farm Museum gates close at 5 p.m., at which time volunteers from the Kiwanis Club will collect $5 per carload for admission to the fireworks. Those who wish to watch the fireworks should be at the Museum and parked before 8:30 p.m.