Submitted Photo The Rising will be playing before the fireworks on Monday.

The city of Dunkirk and Mayor Wilfred Rosas will host the annual three-day Fourth of July Celebration from Saturday to Monday in Memorial Park.

On Saturday, the Dunkirk High School Class of 1989 will host the eighth annual Marauder Trotter 5k Run/Walk starting at 9 a.m. at Wright Park.

The event will include $100 prize to the top male and female run finishers, medals for the top three in each walk/run age category, DJ Joe Gould, a Win Big basket raffle, Marauder mascot appearance and food and drinks available for purchase at the Beach House Bar & Grille.

See SATURDAY, Page A3

To register, please visit www.runsignup.com, drop by the Clarion patio today from 5 to 7 p.m. for early race packet pick up or register day of race between 7:15 to 8:30 a.m.

In addition, the Class of 1989 will host a free Kids’ Parade of Wheels will take place at 10:15 at Wright Park with prizes for the top three best entries. Families are encouraged to decorate bikes, wagons, scooters, buggies, strollers or anything small with wheels to participate in the Fourth of July parade event. No registration is required.

After the Marauder Trotter at 1 p.m. at Wright Park, the city of Dunkirk Festivals and Special Events Department will host a community driving scavenger hunt with $250 as the grand prize. Teams must consist of four members (ages 12 and older) with at least one of them being 21 years or older. The event will last until 3:30 p.m. All participants must pre-register by calling Scott Mekus at (716) 366-9848 before today at 5 p.m.

At 5 p.m. in Memorial Park, food, drink, merchandise vendors will be open with the band Backlog taking the stage followed by the Alexander James Band starting at 7:15 p.m.

On Sunday, the Memorial Park vendors will start at 3 p.m. with the following musical lineup of Woodenship at 5 p.m. and Smokin’ 45 at 7:15 p.m.

On the Fourth, vendors will be available starting at 11 a.m. Zen City will play at 3 p.m. followed by Furious George at 5:15 p.m. and headliner The Rising at 7:30 p.m.

At dusk, the city of Dunkirk and Starfire Corp. will present Chautauqua County’s largest fireworks display over the Dunkirk harbor.

“We are so lucky to host our Fourth of July Celebration every year along the beautiful shores of Lake Erie and the Dunkirk waterfront,” Rosas said. “Dunkirk Festivals has done a great job putting together events for our summer season so I hope our community has a chance to enjoy all of the special offerings.”

Vendors for the weekend events include Taylor’s Doughboy, Leworthy’s Concessions, Tony’s Waffles, Arly & Izzy’s, Charlie’s Curley Fries, Serving Up Smiles, Merritt Winery, Ivy League Psychic Medium, Santillo’s, Franklin’s Honey & Apples, Campi’s Pizza, Fun B-Que Novelties, T-N-T Foods & Sweets and Whiz Whip.

Fireworks display sponsors include: A.W. Farrell & Son, Dunkirk Falcon Club, Kosciuszko Club, Hometown Insurance, DFT Communications, Lake Shore Paving, Dunkirk Yacht Club, Barton & Loguidice, Beach House Bar & Grille, Community Bank, N.A., Pizza Village, Moniuszko Social Club, Ellman’s Garage, Lock City Supply, Greenman-Pedersen, Dunkirk Motel, Valley Tire Co., Mc-Graw-Kowal Funeral Home, St. George Enterprises, Putnam Record Insurance Agency, Add Lumber, Kravitz Tree Service, D.P.C., G & E Tents, Casale Plumbing Heating, Main Wine & Spirits and Lakeside Precision.

For more information about the event or to become a vendor for the holiday weekend, please visit www.cityofdunkirk.com, Facebook at Dunkirk Festivals & Special Events, call Ryan Hall (716) 366-9886 or via e-mail at rhall@cityofdunkirk.com.