Special to the Reporter

Dress in your best red, white and blue and head to the American Village for an Independence Day as American as apple pie.

The fun begins Saturday, July 3 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. with a celebration of Americana at its best.

There will be an Uncle Sam Look-A-Like contest for both males and females.

There will also be a Watermelon Seed-Spitting Contest; and Village visitors can also challenge their friends to a sack races, bucket brigades, a whistling contest and many more games.

You can also get your face painted, see puppet shows and hear flag-waving music. You can even bring your own musical instrument, either homemade or store-bought, and enter the Ham It Up contest, where you might win a ham.

Visitors are also invited to fight the Revolutionary War with water balloons and watch the firing of a colonial cannon.

At noon, salute the flag, join the parade and honor the veterans, all the while interacting with the Village’s costumed historical interpreters.

On Sunday, July 4, gates open at 2 p.m. with a Sunday &uot;Salute to God and Country&uot; honoring the nation’s military heroes. This patriotic celebration will take visitors back to Independence Day 1776.

There will also be music, fun, fireworks and the dedication of the new Colonial Chapel.

End the day at 7:30 p.m. with a musical salute to our veterans, featuring a special emphasis on those who served during World War II and those currently serving the country.

The Village’s annual fireworks show for July 4th immediately follows the musical production.

Tickets are $5 per person each day or $8 for a two-day pass. Veterans and active military personnel are admitted free. Food and drinks are priced separately.