LUCINDA, Pa. — St. Joseph’s 84th Annual Fourth of July Celebration will be held Tuesday, July 4, from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m. on the parish grounds in Lucinda.

(Pictured above: Caroline McElhinny of North Carolina picks out at the Fourth of July Celebration in Lucinda, Clarion county’s oldest Independence Day event. This year marks its 84th anniversary and features great food, games, prizes, live entertainment and over $40,000 in cash and prizes.)

The schedule of events on July 4 is as follows:

• 10 a.m. – Dinner ticket sales will open.
• 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. Traditional all-you-can-eat chicken and ham dinners will be served, featuring homemade pie and soup with their famous homemade noodles. Takeouts will be available from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. Dinner prices are $13 for adults, $6 for children ages six to 12, and free for children under six. Nearly 2,000 dinners are served each year.
• 11 a.m. – Grounds will open featuring diverse games of skill and chance for adults and children, a concession stand, extensive Chinese Auction, prize drawings, and children’s features. A cornerstone attraction are the handmade quilts with several slated to be awarded throughout the day. A limited number will be available for purchase. A preview of the quilts is available at www.stjoseph-stmichaelparishes.org.
• 11 a.m. – Gravel Lick, a group from the Clarion area, will kick off the day’s live entertainment on the main grounds featuring bluegrass music with a non traditional flair. Guitarist Adam Earnheardt of Clarion will perform a variety of familiar and patriotic tunes in the outdoor dining area.
• 11:30 a.m. – Called-number games will begin in the lower level of the social hall and will continue throughout the afternoon.
• 12 p.m. – The first of four larger-prize called-number games will be held in the lower level of the social hall. Jackson Danger and the Golden boy will perform at the outdoor dining area showcasing a juke box variety of tunes from oldies to modern rock.
• 12:30 p.m. – Zero to One of Wellsboro, featuring electronic/EDM music, will begin the afternoon’s performances on the main grounds.
• 1 p.m. – Solo fingerstyle guitarist Rob Gardner of Sigel playing acoustic favorites from the 60s to the 90s will be featured in the outdoor dining area. The second of four larger-prize called-number games will be held in the lower level of the social hall.
• 2:00 p.m. – Sean Carey & the Transit Band of Oil City performing a variety of classic hits, oldies, folk tunes and originals will be featured. The third of four larger-prize called-number games will be held in the lower level of the social hall.
• 3:00 p.m. – Country singer/songwriter Kaleb Beichner of Shippenville, featuring country hits and originals, will conclude the day’s performances; the final larger-prize called-number game will be held.
• 4 p.m. – Grand Prize drawing, worth over $10,000, will be held. Awards include a $5,000 cash prize, Pop Up Movie Theater Kit, gift certificates, and other major cash awards.

In addition to the musical groups, balloon artist Desiree Davis of Girard will be on hand during the afternoon hours with custom-made designs for kids of all ages, and Oil City resident Greg Wilson and his dragons will meet and greet visitors and share amusing anecdotes.

In total, more than $40,000 in cash and prizes is to be awarded with proceeds from the day’s events benefiting St. Joseph Catholic School, one of the oldest Catholic schools in the Erie Diocese.

The celebration will be held rain or shine on the canopy-covered parish grounds.

The children’s playground is adjacent to the festivities and St. Joseph Church, erected in 1893, will be open to visitors.

The parish complex is located at 112 Rectory Lane along State Route 66 in Lucinda (I-80 Exit 60, Route 66 north 10 miles) and is a short drive from Cook Forest State Park.

The grounds are handicap accessible.

Parking areas surround the grounds and a parking shuttle will be available. Reserved parking spaces will be available for those who cannot attend the festival but want to purchase a carry-out dinner.

For more information, visit www.stjoseph-stmichaelparishes.org, Facebook @stjoseph4thofjuly or call 814-226-7288.