Celebrate three days of Fourth fun

New Berlin — This year's Fourth of July celebration in New Berlin will be the biggest in 42 years, said Anida Rose, Fourth of July commission chairwoman. And she should know. She has been working on the annual birthday party for 42 years.

Planners have been able to bring in some new things this year as well as bring back favorites, she said. And Rose attributes having a strong Fourth celebration to the sponsors.

"Our businesses that sponsor us have been so generous to us," Rose said.

A stalwart Fourth of July sponsor is Schoeneck Containers that is sponsoring the fireworks for a 12th year.

Katherine Sorce, director of human development for Schoeneck, said the company has not been immune from the tough economy, but owner and president Paul Schoeneck feels strongly about keeping support for the Fourth of July celebration high.

"He feels it's a great event for the community and for our employees," she said.

Three days of celebrations

The three days of good times are planned for July 2, 3 and 4 at Malone Park, 16400 W. Al Stigler Parkway. There will be carnival rides, food and live music every day. Wristbands good for unlimited rides during daytime hours are available at a discount at the New Berlin Recreation Department at City Hall, 3805 S. Casper Drive. They are $16. The wristbands will be $20 at the gate.

New this year will be a baseball challenge between the city's two high schools. That battle will be at 4 p.m. July 3.

Also new on July 3 will be the Brookfield band Cyrus performing from 12:30 to 4:30 p.m.

Those who love festivals for the food will get to revel in the selections of several new sellers. One offers deep-fried specialties, Rose said. They even deep-fry green beans, she said.

"There are weird and wonderful taste sensations," she said. "You gotta try them."

For a second year, BuySeasons of New Berlin is sponsoring the free concert by the Wisconsin Singers to be at Eisenhower Middle/High School, 4333 S. Sunny Slope Road, at 6:30 p.m. July 2. But free tickets must be picked up at the recreation office in City Hall.

Other activities planned

Rose said she again expects upwards of 300 youngsters to be in the mini-parade at 9 a.m. July 3. The kids decorate bicycles, tricycles and the like and proudly go on the march.

And she is always particularly proud of the bands that perform for the Fourth. For example, she said, the Rabid Aardvarks have performed at Summerfest and the new band, Cyrus, has a large following.

The Pie Bakeoff will be in its seventh year with judging at 6 p.m. July 3.

"What people do with these pies, it's extraordinary," she admired.

The first- and second-place pies will be sold for $2 each and the other pies will go for $1 each. Proceeds will help to maintain the New Berlin Veterans Memorial.

July 3 will climax with the flashlight candy hunt. Children up to sixth grade will be divided into three age groups. Three baseball fields will be covered with candy. At the stroke of 9:30 p.m., the lights will be turned off and the kids will be turned loose.

"It's one of the most charming things you've ever seen in your life," Rose said.

Parade steps off Monday

On the Fourth of July, the parade will step off at 1 p.m. from National Avenue and Sunny Slope Road and head west on National to Malone Park.

The parade will be 97 units strong with at least 11 floats. All will illustrate the parade theme of "The Spirit of America in New Berlin."

New this year will be the Dixie Doodlers Dixieland band, said parade chairman John Ziino.

Coming back will be a crowd favorite, the Cottage Grove Happy Whistlers from the Cottage Grove Lions Club. They stand on a flatbed and paint faces on their stomachs and wear huge top hats over their heads. Their hilarious presentation always brings cheers and clapping when they come by, Ziino said.

Another favorite, the Tripoli Motor Corps featuring big guys riding little cars and scooters, will be back after an absence of a couple of years.

And everyone will know when the parade is coming. Four hundred roaring Harleys from the Kettle Moraine HOG Chapter will bring a roar of deafening fanfare.

A fireworks show by the Bartolotta Fireworks Co. will top off the celebration.

The handicap-accessible parking will be expanded this year and motorcycle parking will be moved to the gazebo parking lot and will offer more parking. Entry forms for all the activities and more information are available at newberlin.org, then click on "visitors" and go to "Fourth of July."

AT A GLANCE

MUSKEGO

The Water Bugs Ski Team will offer both a ski show and fireworks on July 3 at Idle Isle Park, S6666 Hardtke Drive.

• The show will be at 6 p.m. and will be free. The audience should bring chairs or blankets to sit on.

• Fireworks at dusk.

NEW BERLIN Three days of festivities to be at Malone Park, 16400 W. Al Stigler Parkway, with bands, food and rides daily.

July 2, grounds open 5 to 11 p.m.

• 5-7 p.m. Piles of Rhythm and Pat McCarty performing on separate stages

• 6:30 p.m. Wisconsin Singers free concert at Eisenhower Middle/High School, 4333 S Sunny Slope Road. Tickets may still be available at the New Berlin recreation office in City Hall, 3805 S. Casper Drive.

July 3, noon to 11 p.m.

• 9 a.m. Mini-parade for children with decorated bikes, trikes, etc.

• 12:30 to 4:40 p.m. Rabid Aardvarks and rock band Cyrus perform

• 3 to 5 p.m. Mad Science program for kids

• 4 p.m. Baseball teams from New Berlin's two high schools will battle on the diamond

• 6 p.m. Pie Bakeoff judging with pie sale to follow

• 7 to 11 p.m. The Booze Brothers and the LoveMonkeys

• 9:30 p.m. Flashlight candy hunt for children up to sixth grade

July 4, noon to 11 p.m.

• noon The New Berlin National Dash 2-mile run/walk and 5K run, $25 fee

• 12:30 to 4 p.m. Rabid Aardvark and Cyrus

• 1 p.m. Parade starting at National Avenue and Sunny Slope and proceeding west on National to Malone Park

• 3 to 8 p.m. Petting zoo

• 4 p.m. free ice cream for kids age 11 and under

• 4 p.m. German Shepherd Club demonstration

• 4 to 6 p.m. educational and fun children's activities by Discovery World

• 4:45 p.m. Anita's Dance Company performance

• 4:45 p.m. tae kwon do demonstration

• 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Magic Morgan who makes balloon animals for kids

• 6 to 10 p.m. The Toys and Eddie Butts Band

• Fireworks