City will again pick up the tab on meal options at Main Street event
With activities that included a tempting offer of free food, last year’s July 4th celebration in downtown Platte City–which was styled as a reopening of community events after COVID–attracted a crowd larger than anticipated.
This year, the crowd may return as the city has decided to stick with the free food idea. The city will pick up the tab on meal options from multiple food trucks and a downtown restaurant that will have an outside offering that day.
The 4th of July Celebration in downtown Platte City will run from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Monday, July 4.
Last year, city planners said they were hoping for a crowd of 800 people. Turnout far surpassed that number, with an estimated 2,000 to 2,200 coming and going during the course of the four-hour event.
“Yes, the city will be providing all the food,” Amy Edwards, the city clerk who is taking the lead on the city’s planning of the celebration this year, told The Landmark this week.
Food trucks with free food options at the downtown celebration will include Big Daddy and Sons BBQ, Jadabay’s Tasty Kitchen, and Highway 92 Food Service. In addition, free food options courtesy of the city will be available from a hot dog stand operated by Boy Scout Troop 1351 and from La Cabana, the Mexican restaurant located on Main.
“La Cabana will have a free food option outside only,” Edwards said. The restaurant will have its full menu available to paying customers who choose to go inside and order from the menu.
Menus for the free food options will include:
La Cabana: 3 soft tacos plus chips and salsa; or 3 hard tacos plus chips and salsa; or taco salad plus chips and salsa (beef or chicken with lettuce, tomato and cheese).
Big Daddy and Sons BBQ: Pork on bun and BBQ beans; or brisket on bun and BBQ beans; pork nachos; or brisket nachos.
Jadabay’s Tasty Kitchen: Boneless wings and fries; or cheeseburger and fries; or chicken philly and fries; or steak philly and fries.
Highway 92 Food Service: Taco fries; or bacon ranch fries; or two chicken strips and fries; or plain or cheese fries.
Boy Scout Troop 1351: Hot dog and chips.
ENTERTAINMENT
AND ACTIVITIES
Plenty of family-friendly activities will fill the square on Main Street near the Platte County Courthouse. There will be live music and other entertainment, a bounce house, a mega obstacle course, a dunk tank, yard games, face painting, a balloon artist, a caricature artist and KC Wolf from the Kansas City Chiefs.
Free entertainment will include:
10 a.m.: Harper Haus Music Company.
10:30 a.m.: The Good Sam Club Band.
12:30 p.m.:; Harper Haus Music Company.
1 p.m.: Beatniks Dance and Tumble
1:30 p.m.: Pirates Cheerleading Club.
The dunk tank, a free and popular attraction for kids at last year’s event, returns again this year. Throwers of all ages will get the opportunity to sink the following local faces:
10:30-11 a.m.: Platte City Mayor Tony Paolillo.
11 to 11:30 a.m.: Patty Farr of RE/MAX House of Dreams.
11:30 a.m. to 12 p.m.: Ivan Foley of The Landmark Newspaper.
12 to 12:30 p.m.: Robert Mueller, assistant principal at Platte City Middle School.
12:30 to 1 p.m.: Keith Jones, principal at Platte County High School.
1 to 1:30 p.m.: Michael Powers, assistant principal at Siegrist Elementary School.
1:30 to 2 p.m.: Phillip O’Reilly, pastor at the Rock of KC.
SHUTTLE SERVICE
Since downtown Platte City parking is somewhat limited, a free shuttle service will be available between Platte County High School main entrance and Main Street. The shuttle begins at 9:30 a.m. and will run until 2:30 p.m.
FIREWORKS
Long after the daytime activities, the city’s fireworks show will begin at 10 p.m.
The fireworks display will take place at the campus of Platte County R-3 School District along Hwy. 92. There will be no stadium seating available, however, due to ongoing construction at the school.
Of course the fireworks will be visible for a great distance and there are many optional viewing locations. Some of the closer, more popular viewing spots might be Hillcrest Thrift Shop, Platte Valley Park, the Mid-Continent Library parking lot, the YMCA parking lot, Price Chopper, Platte County High School parking area, Platte City Middle School parking areas, as well as parking lots at Siegrist Elementary School and Compass Elementary School.