City's looking golden for its Fourth of July festivities
With economic hard times hitting community festivals all over the place, New Berlin's celebration will be the same joyous event that it has always been.
"This year, I had great trepidation," said Anida Rose, who has been Fourth of July Commission president for the last 40 years or so. "I've seen festivals collapse all over the state."
And indeed, the New Berlin Fourth of July celebration did lose sponsors, she said.
"But we've gotten new sponsors," she said. In fact, the celebration is brought to the community by more than 100 sponsors, she said.
"But without Schoeneck Containers and their sponsorship of the fireworks, it would have been very different," Rose acknowledged. Schoeneck, located in New Berlin, also sponsors the festival's family tent.
With New Berlin celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, that has been made the theme of the celebration.
"I'm expecting to see a lot of gold," Rose said, for the city's golden anniversary.
Not only that, the kids will be invited to get into the 50th anniversary act by decorating cupcakes with the anniversary theme in mind. That will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday.
Knowing that kids and frosting don't mix all that well, Rose predicted, "It's going to be hysterically funny."
In addition, rides are not new this year, but there will be more of them.
"The carnival company is bringing in every ride they own," said Cheryl Schober, commission coordinator, who has worked on the city's celebration for 23 years.
Although the Fourth of July celebration goes from July 2 to 5, a big favorite is the parade. About 20,000 people line the route of the parade that starts at Coffee Road and National Avenue. It will proceed west on National to the festival grounds at Malone Park. The parade will have about 100 units.
Rose said that one of her perennial favorites is the flashlight candy hunt that has been held for perhaps 15 years, she said. About three tons of candy are spread on three baseball fields and then 3,000 kids ages 11 and younger are let loose to find the candy after dark.
There also will be Summerfest-style musical entertainment and a number of charities also will sell food.
NEW BERLIN FOURTH OF JULY ACTIVITIES
WHEN: today, grounds open at 5 p.m.
WHERE: Malone Park, 3953 S. Casper Drive*
5 to 11 p.m. - Spectrum Carnival games and rides; 6 to 10 p.m. unlimited rides for $20
5 to 10 p.m. - high school Battle of the Bands, sponsored by the Teen Advisory Board, west tent
7 to 11 p.m. - The Piles of Rhythm, east tent
WHERE: Eisenhower High School auditorium, 4333 S. Sunnyslope Road
6:30 to 9:30 p.m. - Wisconsin Singers
WHEN: Friday, grounds open at 5 p.m.
WHERE: Malone Park*
5 to 11 p.m. - Spectrum Carnival games and rides; 6 to 10 p.m. unlimited rides for $20
5:30 p.m. - pie baking contest check-in, Schoeneck Containers Family Tent
6 p.m. - sixth annual pie baking contest judging, Schoeneck Containers Family Tent
6 to 8 p.m. - family games and make/take activities sponsored by North Shore Bank
7 to 11 p.m. - Caught in the Act, west tent
7 to 11 p.m. - Eddie Butts, east tent
9:30 p.m. - New Berlin Fire Department flashlight candy hunt (11 years and younger), softball diamonds; bring a bag and flashlight
WHEN: Saturday
WHERE: Malone Park*
9 a.m. - mini parade lineup, west parking lot by soccer fields; enter at Al Stigler Parkway and National Avenue
9:30 a.m. - mini parade hosted by New Berlin Junior Woman's Club
10:30 a.m. - race staging hosted by New Berlin Junior Woman's Club, Schoeneck Containers Family Tent
noon - 3rd Annual National Dash 2-mile run/walk or 5K run hosted by New Berlin Junior Woman's Club
noon - grounds open
noon to 11 p.m. - Spectrum Carnival games and rides
1 p.m. - parade
3 to 8 p.m. - Jo Don Farms Petting Zoo sponsored by North Shore Bank
4 p.m. - German Shepherd Dog Club of WI demonstration, center of grounds
4:15 p.m. - Anita's Dance Companies, east tent
4:30 p.m. - WMAA martial arts demonstration, west tent
5 to 7 p.m. - Discovery World, Schoeneck Containers Family Tent
5:30 to 7:30 p.m. - Magic Morgan, Schoeneck Containers Family Tent
6 to 10 p.m. - Love Monkeys, west tent
6 to 10 p.m. - Booze Brothers, east tent
10 p.m. - fireworks
WHEN: Sunday
WHERE: Malone Park*
noon to 8 p.m. - Spectrum Carnival games and rides
*no food or beverage carry-ins allowed on festival grounds
The Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin Clinics-New Berlin blog offers health and safety guidelines, as well as tips on injury prevention, seasonal health, parenting and resources for families. 
