Ellsworth is marking the Fourth of July in a big way this year with a day full of fun, and a night filled with fireworks, during the annual Star-Spangled Splash & Blast celebration.

The event is planned for Saturday, June 29.

For several years now, the Ellsworth Area Chamber of Commerce has sponsored and planned the event, Tami McGreevy, chamber executive director, said. While the Fourth of July-themed celebration has undergone its share of changes through the years, organizers said it’s a summer event that residents look forward to, and there are no plans on ending it.

“The chamber feels it is an important community event and, therefore, has continued it with help,” McGreevy said.

“Now that we have done this event for several years, it’s not too difficult. We have plenty of help, and everyone knows how it goes. We are thankful for both help in volunteers and help financially from our sponsors.”

McGreevy said sponsors like the Ellsworth Kiwanis Club covered the cost of the wet bounce houses, while the local Refreshed & Redeemed Church of the Nazarene Church sponsored additional bounce houses and a climbing wall at no cost to the chamber.

The Scout Spirit 5-K gets the day started at 7:30 a.m. at the First Presbyterian Church, 405 N. Lincoln. The event includes a 5-K run, a twomile run/walk and a kids’ fun run benefiting local Boys Scout Troop 84. Registration begins at 6:30 a.m. Entry fees are $25 per person, and each 5-K run/walk participant receives a Scout Spirit 5-K T-shirt while supplies last. An awards ceremony follows the completion of the last run. For more information, email tr84bsa@gmail.com. More information and a registration form is available on the chamber’s website: www.goellsworth.com.

At 1 p.m., the curtain rises on the local children’s summer theater production of “The Jungle Book” at the Ellsworth Performing Arts Center in the high school. A second performance follows at 2:30 p.m.

“We are excited to have a full day of events as well this year, and hope to draw people in for the whole day,” McGreevy said. “In the downtime between those events, we hope folks will take time to shop and dine in Ellsworth. There will be sales going on – so stick around and check it out.”

Beginning at 5 p.m., the Star-Spangled Splash & Blast gets underway on the grounds of the recreation complex. Kids can visit the wet and dry bounce houses, barrel train rides and carnival games. All children’s activities will be located in the low, grassy area of the complex grounds. McGreevy said the upper area of the grounds will feature vendors selling food and other items, as well as a 50/50 drawing and DJ music and entertainment beginning at 8 p.m.

A flag ceremony and a performance of the National Anthem take place at 9:30 p.m. followed by fireworks, which are set to begin around 9:45 p.m.

“We will have wet and dry bounce houses, and an inflatable climbing wall, which should be super fun for the kids,” she said.“There will be plenty of food this year as well. So, we hope the weather cooperates, and everyone will come out and support the food vendors and the event as a whole.”