GENTRY — The Gentry Freedom Festival will be observed on Saturday, July 3rd, this year, with a day filled with activities and entertainment in the Gentry City Park. The following is a schedule of some of the day’s activities:

◊All-day - Co-ed softball tournament games will be played all day at ball diamonds in the city park and at McKee Foods Corporation. For more information on taking part in the softballtournament, call 790-8988.

◊All-day - Tired Iron of the Ozarks will show old tractors, trucks and engines throughout the day in the park. They will offer rides in the park and on Main Street on tractor-pulled wagons. For more information, contact John Burger at 736-5800.

◊9 a.m. - A car show will again be held at the northwest side of the park, nearthe large trees. The show will begin with sign-ups at 9 a.m. Judging will follow. For more information, contact Tammie Runyan at 238-4979.

◊Noon - Food booths, arts and crafts booths and games will open at noon. Vendor forms are available by calling 736-2358.

◊Noon - Inflatable rides, including a slide, castle, bounce around and climbing wall will be set up in the park. Arm bands, at a cost of $10 each, will allow children unlimited passage on the rides throughout the daytime and evening hours.

◊Noon - Camel rides and a petting zoo will be available in the park throughout the day. They are providedby the Wild Wilderness Safari, located just north of Gentry.

◊3 p.m. - Stage One Entertainment, featuring local singer Kaylin Cripps, will be on stage performing gospel music at 3 p.m.

◊4 and 6 p.m. - Skydivers from Skydive Skyranch will drop into the park under canopy chutes from a mile or two above.

◊4:30 p.m. - The Little Miss and Mister Gentry Pageants will take place on the stage at 4:30 p.m.

◊5 p.m. - Stage One Entertainment, featuring young, local singers, will again take the stage with a variety of entertaining music.

◊ 6:45 p.m. - The Flint Hills Ramblers will perform a variety of bluegrass music on stage. The group is made up of local singers and musicians from the Gentry and Colcord area. The group is becoming well known throughout the region.

◊8 p.m. - Earl’s Garage Band, featuring local artists Alan Lamb and Kevin Bonner, will be performing from 8 p.m. until dusk. The group features a wide variety of southern soul music.

◊Dusk - The finale of the evening will be the fireworks display at dusk. The display will be the largest ever held in Gentry. The Gentry Fire Department will coordinate the event and ignite the fireworks.

Community, Pages 18 on 06/30/2010