ADRIAN – Local organizations are scheduling everything from breakfast to a duck race to entice people to celebrate the Fourth of July in Adrian.
The free veterans’ breakfast starts at 8 a.m. at the high school park, serving pancakes, eggs, sausages, and beverages. The Boys Scouts will conduct a flag ceremony, and the veterans present will have their names and years served announced.
Breakfast will be followed by the annual Walking Horse Race. Registration for the race will be 8:30 a.m. to 9:45 a.m. across from Don’s Lumber. The flat-footed walking horse race features two divisions: one for adults and one for youth 14 and under.
The cash entry fee is $10. Those riding in the race for the fun of it can do so without paying the entry fee.
The race starts at 10 a.m., beginning at the top of Emerald Slope Road west of Adrian and ending downtown in front of the Eastern Oregon City Hall.
Judges will be placed along the route to make sure that the event stays walking-only and there will be signs directing riders. All participants will get a ribbon for completing the race and the top four finalists in each category will receive cash.
The 4th of July parade follows the race and lineup begins at the elementary school at 10:30 a.m.
Entries for the parade can include bikes, classic cars, mules, floats, electric cars, and wagons.
No registration or fee is required. The parade will start by the bus garage and go down Oregon Highway 201 before circling back through downtown. According to Tammy Cleaver, a coordinator for the parade, about 50 people participated in last year’s event and it is expected that this year will have even more.
After the parade, the rubber duck race put on by the Lions Club will start at the Adrian bridge at noon. Once the race is complete and the ducks are collected, cash prizes will be handed out to the winners.
A lunch put on by the Adrian Clover Buds and Adrian Fire Department will follow the completion of the duck race at the high school park. Hot dogs and hamburgers are on the menu and available by donation.
Reporter Carolyn Agrimis: [email protected] or 541-473-3377.