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J4 Celebration Changing to 'Cove Carnival' for 2022

The annual J4 Celebration will have a new name and a new date this year. The Cove Carnival will be held July 12 to 16. Important dates within that week are as follows:

• Little Miss Pageant: Monday, July 11

• Parade: Tuesday, July 12

• Fireworks: Tuesday, July 12; Friday, July 15

• Bargain Day: Friday, July 8

• Fire Company Ox Roast: Friday and Saturday, July 8 and 9

• Boosters Chicken BBQ: July 16

The decision comes from a chain of events. After conducting a survey on what the community wants from the annual July 4 celebration, the Morrisons Cove Memorial Park Board found that rides were a crucial aspect of the week. Bartlebaugh Amusements' availability for this year was the week of July 12 to the 16, so the board opted to have the week of celebrations later than usual.

Park boardmembers Brooke Long-Yarrison and Emily Keith will be co-chairing the July 4 Committee. The board held a meeting of 15 to 20 community members on Tuesday, March 22, to solidify details about the carnival.

"It was a suggestion we received at the meeting," said Keith. "We were told we might have to reinvent J4."

The rebranding, dubbed the "Cove Carnival," will have the usual rides, games and nonprofit concessions.

It is currently unclear if next year will "go back to tradition or stay with the Cove Carnival," Keith said.

Keith pointed out that this is just another year in a series of abnormal July 4 celebrations. In 2019, the park tried tents and games without rides. This utilized hundreds of people and was extremely taxing on the park board, according to Keith. With COVID in 2020, there was only a parade to commemorate the holiday. In 2021, the festivities were held a week early.

"It's important to remember that the main objective of this celebration is to give local nonprofits their big fundraiser for the year," Keith said. "This is not a fundraiser for the park."

Keith noted that the fire company and Boosters Club "worked together" to move things around for the carnival.

"We really appreciate community support as we maneuver new challenges," said Keith.

The park will continue to provide updates via its Facebook page as more details become available. Details will also be published in the Herald.

"New traditions allow each generation in the community to have the opportunity to take their lap around the track," Keith said.

 

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