Just over a month away from this year’s Fourth of July celebration in Staunton, the Happy Birthday America organization is busy preparing for the festivities in Gypsy Hill Park.

The nonprofit, all-volunteer organization is accepting parade, pageant, food concessions, non-food vendor, music and entertainer, volunteer, and 5K race applications for the event. Sponsorship opportunities are also available for this free community celebration.

This three-day celebration kicks off June 29 with the Happy Birthday America beauty pageant. The annual vespers service will be held July 3. Then, on July 4, the day starts with a 5K race in the park followed by a parade, and finishes with a concert at Moxie Memorial Stadium headlined by Wilson Fairchild and Emily Ann Roberts. There’s also entertainment in the afternoon at the bandstand in the park.

Emily Ann Roberts is a former contestant on “The Voice,” and she released her debut full-length album, “Can’t Hide Country,” in 2023. She was included in the CMT Next Women of Country 2024 class and recently opened for Blake Shelton on his “Back To The Honky Tonk” tour.

Roberts is also featured in Walt Disney World’s Country Bear Musical Jamboree at the Magic Kingdom, performing “Try Everything” from “Zootopia” as Trixie St. Claire.

Wilson Fairchild, made up of cousins Langdon Reid and Wil Reid, created Happy Birthday America in 2018. The duo wanted to bring back the tradition started by their dads, members of the legendary country music group the Statler Brothers. Langdon’s dad is Don Reid and Wil is the son of the late Harold Reid. The Statlers highlighted Happy Birthday U.S.A. for 25 years, ending in the mid-1990s.

“To be able to bring this back to life,” Wil said in a 2022 News Leader story, “and be such a huge part of it is just wonderful.”

Darin and Brooke Aldridge will highlight the vespers service July 3, performing at 8:15 p.m. at Moxie Memorial Stadium.

The full 2025 event schedule can be found at happybirthdayamerica.org/schedule.

Information regarding all HBA applications can be found at happybirthdayamerica.org/applications.

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Parade

For those interested in participating in the parade, entry categories include antique vehicles, business/commercial, church, civic/organization/car club, dance/cheer/martial arts/sports, emergency vehicles, equestrian, marching bands, military, pageant, political, school, veteran, and groups/organizations. The parade application is online.

Scenes from the 2024 Happy Birthday America parade.

Pageant

Win a crown, lead a parade. You are invited to take part in the annual Miss Happy Birthday America pageant. Winners will lead the annual July 4 parade through Gypsy Hill Park. The application for the contest is online.

Food concessions

Sell your culinary creations and join the events as a food vendor at this year’s Fourth of July celebration. View the food concession application online.

Non-food vendor

This event offers individuals, organizations, and businesses an opportunity to take part in the Happy Birthday America celebration. Whether you are interested in showcasing your talents or selling your products, there is a place for you at this event. The non-food vendor application is online.

Volunteer

This three-day free community event is not possible without the help of many volunteers. Volunteers are needed to work at the information booth and assist in the parade lineup, event setup, and breakdown. View volunteer application here.

Staunton Firecracker 5K

The Firecracker 5K kicked off Staunton's Happy Birthday America celebration at 7:30 a.m. in Gypsy Hill Park.

The Firecracker 5K kicked off Staunton’s Happy Birthday America celebration at 7:30 a.m. in Gypsy Hill Park.

Join the fun at Staunton’s largest 5K race. The Firecracker 5K is held in Gypsy Hill Park the morning of July 4. All participants receive a commemorative race shirt (while supplies last), and top finishers will earn awards for overall placement and age group categories. All proceeds from the race benefit the Salvation Army’s Pathway of Hope Program, supporting local families on their journey to stability and self-sufficiency. More details and application online.

2025 event sponsorship opportunities

The public is encouraged to visit happybirthdayamerica.org to learn more about ways to support and sponsor this community event. Happy Birthday America offers a range of sponsorship opportunities for businesses and organizations looking to make a positive impact. View sponsorship opportunities here.

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— Patrick Hite is a reporter at The News Leader. Story ideas and tips always welcome. Connect with Patrick (he/him/his) at phite@newsleader.com and on Instagram @hitepatrick. Subscribe to us at newsleader.com.

This article originally appeared on Staunton News Leader: Staunton’s Happy Birthday America gearing up for 2025 celebration

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