Shepherdstown’s 4th of July community picnic will have a new emphasis on children’s activities this year. Highlights will include a scavenger hunt, storytelling, a water balloon toss, face painting, a waterslide and more. All these activities will be free.

The picnic will be held from 12 noon to 3 p.m. on Saturday the 4th at Morgan’s Gove Park. It will be held in the park’s pavilion.

This will be right after the town’s annual Fourth of July parade, which will be held downtown starting at 11 a.m. Everyone is welcome at both events and admission will be free.

The scavenger hunt will be scheduled for 1 p.m. Children will search for small American flags hidden around the park, and everyone who participates will get a prize.

The storytelling will last from 1:30 to 2 p.m. The storyteller will be Fanny Crawford, a Hagerstown resident who performs frequently in Shepherdstown.

The water balloon toss will be at 2:15 pm.

The other children’s activities will be available throughout the picnic. The face painter will be Jill Harner, from Shepherdstown’s Flyeye Design. The waterslide is being provided by Great Inflates, with the Shepherdstown Fire Department supplying water.

There will also be a “Stream Cleaner” Pinball Game, a new educational game from the Cacapon Institute and cornhole games.

Shepherdstown’s Fourth of July parade and picnic are organized annually by the Rotary Club of Shepherdstown. The goal is to provide a wholesome, family-oriented Fourth of July celebration for the town.

For more information contact Peter Smith at 304-876-1139 or pvsmith@frontiernet.net.