With the Fourth of July celebrations just around the corner, one Audubon County town is getting a jump start. Judy Bitner, treasurer for the Exira Community Club, says Exira will be firing up the grills for a BBQ that takes place this evening (July 3rd). “We start out at 5:30 with our Community Club BBQ. It is a free will donation hamburger meal in the city park. We will have some live music by Chad Elliot at the same time.”

The kiddie parade is scheduled for 6-p.m. near the same area. A dance on Main Street runs from 9-pm to 1-am, featuring the music of “Burnin’ Sensations.” The dance has a $5 cover charge. Exira’s celebration continues Friday, with foot races beginning at 9-a.m. at the old elementary school then the parade starting by the Legion Park at 10:30-a.m. Bitner says the afternoon is full of activities.

“So then we have entertainment in the Gazebo from about twelve o’clock all the way into the evening with different things going on. We have got village players, Roger Burger playing later in the afternoon at 4. Six o’clock we are trying something different with a food judging contest. We ask people register anything corn-bacon items or their salsa.”

Also during the afternoon Exira’s Fourth of July features the Grand River Rodeo at Kickapoo Park with Mutton Bustin’ at 12:45-p.m., and the rodeo at 1:30-p.m. The Kid’s tractor pull begins at 4-p.m. in front of the city clerk’s office and of course the final activity in Exira is the fireworks display at the football field, beginning at dusk (weather permitting).

(Joel McCall/KNOD)