The Fourth of July Independence Day celebrations will begin in the morning for Evesham Township on Thursday, July 4.
The Evesham Celebrations Foundation will be kicking off the events with the Marlton Mayor’s Cup 5K Run and One Mile Fun Run/Walk at 8:30 a.m.
According to Sandy Student, organizer and member of the Evesham Celebrations Foundation, Cherokee students have been recipients of the Mayor’s Cup the last few years.
“We would love to see that again,” Student said.
According to the foundation’s site, pre-registrants of the race can pick up packets on Tuesday, July 2 and Wednesday, July 3 at Fleet Feet Sports, Marlton Crossing Shopping Center, 109 Route 73 South, or pick them up the morning of the event at the line labeled “preregistered.”
Additionally, the Marlton Rec Council comes out for the day to cook food for the runners, and REI will have a booth.
“We have the kids’ bike parade, that’s really cool and led off by our police department at 10:30,” Student said. “It’s the sixth year we’re doing it and Marlton Pediatrics are our sponsor; they’re phenomenal.”
At 11 a.m. there will be the “main parade,” which the Cherokee High School marching band leads off.
“When I started the parade committee in the summer of 2007, I never imagined it would have grown into the size it is today,” Mayor Randy Brown said. “This is the sixth year it’s been a whole day celebration.”
“We have more music this year than ever before, so that’s a positive,” Student said.
The Quaker City String Band, Burlington City String Band, The Mummers and The South Jersey Pops are just a few of the bands that will be in attendance for the parade.
The Marlton Elks, the Cherokee Robotics Team, the Boy and Girl Scouts and Marlton Sons of Italy are some of organizations marching in the parade with numerous others, according to Student.
“It is as good as an event that shines on community, our children and soldiers,” Brown said. “I wanted to highlight that when I ran and it turned out better than I can imagine.”
The celebration moves to Cherokee High School at 7 p.m., where there will be music, skydivers and the fireworks display.
There will be a food court, which will include Chick-Fil-A, Brio and other Marlton restaurants, according to Student.
According to Brown, the night event will have dessert, food and four Mister Softee trucks. Skydivers will come down sometime between 7:45 and 8:15 p.m.
Additionally, Burns Honda will be selling cars and the company will be showing various models, according to Student.
“You can actually sit in a car, it’s phenomenal,” Student said. “People don’t always buy that day, but it’s a cool thing to see.”
Student is expecting large crowds all day, possibly in excess of 30,000 people.
“The №1 thing to me is that none of this would be possible without our donors and our volunteers of the ECF who spend 12 months out of the year planning for this,” Brown said. “It wouldn’t happen without any of them.”
“It’s amazing when I look at what we do and the sponsors we have,” Student said. “These people are all supporting us every year. It’s recognizing they make the town successful.”
Student is hopeful for a successful day in Evesham.
“The community is great. This is what Evesham is about,” Student said.
“It’s the one event I look forward to every year,” Brown said.
