July 4th celebration draws thousands

Westside Eagle Observer/RANDY MOLL Brently Wade, 17, answers a question for the judges at the Miss Gentry pageant held Wednesday, July 4, 2018, at the Gentry Freedom Festival. She was selected Miss Gentry at the conclusion of the pageant.
Westside Eagle Observer/RANDY MOLL Brently Wade, 17, answers a question for the judges at the Miss Gentry pageant held Wednesday, July 4, 2018, at the Gentry Freedom Festival. She was selected Miss Gentry at the conclusion of the pageant.

GENTRY -- Once again, thousands gathered in Gentry's city park to celebrate America's freedoms and carry on Gentry's annual July 4 celebration -- an event celebrated in Gentry for more than 120 years.

Those in attendance enjoyed musical entertainment all afternoon and into the evening with concerts by Amity Heart, Mark Shields and Good Company, River's Edge Band, Back Road Story, and John King.

Classy cars and trucks lined the circle walk and sidewalk to the north for the annual car show, with more entries than ever. Results of the show will be published as soon as they are made available.

The annual Miss Gentry and Little Miss and Little Mister Gentry pageants were held on the stage in the afternoon. The Little Miss Gentry winner was Kendee Huffman, age 3. The Little Mister Gentry winner was Matthew Polina Jr., 4. The 2018 Miss Gentry winner was Brently Wade, 17, with Legend Kavanaugh, 17, the runner-up.

Children enjoyed the inflatable games, as well as visiting the Wild Wilderness Safari petting zoo, riding camels and pounding nails to finish toolboxes provided by Meeks Lumber.

And, with the park packed by nightfall, fireworks, provided by McKee Foods and set off by the Gentry Fire Department, lit up the sky.

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Community on 07/11/2018