Churches, local businesses and organizations are coming together for the first annual Wellston Faith Family Freedom Event on June 28.
The event is a pre-Independence Day celebration for the community that kicks things off the weekend before the Fourth of July. Spence McConnell, the pastor of First Baptist Church in Wellston, said organizers hope to make it a yearly event where the community can come together for a family-friendly evening with entertainment, games, food and fireworks.
“Weareinvitinganybody to come spend the evening as a family. Bring lawn chairs. Bring bag chairs to set up. Come hang out that evening,” he said.
There will be food trucks, vendors, games, inflatables, and, of course, fireworks. McConnell said about 20 vendors have signed up to sell items or food or bring recognition to what they do. Emergency management, the state health department, the wildlife department, the National Guard, police, fire, and other government agencies will also be present.
The pastor added that they will have a commercial- grade fireworks show that will be just under 30 minutes.
The event is free to attend and participate in. They aren’t charging vendors, though they ask that they sign up using a link on the event’s Facebook page.
McConnell said the church wanted to host the event as a ministry to the community. Other nearby towns have big annual festivals, while Wellston does not.
“As a church, we wanted to take an opportunity to not only connect the community together but connect Luther, Arcadia, Carney, Meeker, Chandler and anybody that is willing to come,” he said.
As for hosting the event the weekend before Independence Day, McConnell said they were initially considering holding it on July 4 or 5. However, many people would likely be going out of town for the long weekend or tired from events, so the church decided to hold it on Friday, June 28, for the first year.
Wellston Faith Family Freedom!2024willkickoff at 5 p.m. behind Wellston Elementary School. Fireworks will be at dark.