The historic town of Shepherdstown will hold its annual Independence Day parade and community picnic on Saturday, July 4.

The parade will be held rain or shine starting at 11 a.m. on German Street downtown. It will begin at Church Street and end at Princess Street.

Entries will include veteran’s groups, antique vehicles, local societies and organizations of all kinds, local theaters, businesses, government officials, children’s organizations, animals, historical re-enactors, fire trucks and more.

This year’s Parade Grand Marshal will be Mary Ann Hammann, representing her late husband, Connie Hammann, a prominent long-time local resident and proud US Navy veteran who passed away last spring.

Plenty of parade parking will be available in the Shepherd University parking lot at High and Princess streets.

The picnic will be held right afterwards, from 12 to 3 p.m., in the pavilion at Morgan’s Grove Park on Kearneysville Pike (Route 480) just southwest of town.

Everyone is welcome at both events and admission will be free.

The 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.

The picnic will feature live music, with two local bands: the Speakeasy Boys will play from noon to 1:30 p.m. and the Gypsy Ramblers playing from 1:30 to 3 p.m.

There will be lots of free children’s activities, including a scavenger hunt, a water balloon toss, face painting, a waterslide and more.

The Rotary Club will be selling hamburgers, hot dogs, ice cream, chips and non-alcoholic beverages at reasonable prices. All proceeds from those sales will be used to help cover event costs. People can bring their own picnic lunches if they prefer.

There is plenty of parking at the park.

For more information go to the Rotary Club website at www.shepherdsdtownrotary.org/July_4_picnic or contact Peter Smith at 304-876-1139 or pvsmith@frontiernet.net.