MANSFIELD — It’s a celebration 250 years in the making, with a stop in 1881 and 1976 along the way.
That’s how the city of Mansfield plans to mark the nation’s 250th birthday on Saturday, celebrating July 4, 1776, when the Second Continental Congress officially adopted the Declaration of Independence in Philadelphia, Pa.
Mansfield was not officially founded and laid out as a settlement until more than three decades later in 1808, named in honor of the prominent U.S. Surveyor General Jared Mansfield.
Despite the fact that what’s known today as Mansfield was a wilderness when Thomas Jefferson penned the first draft of what became the Declaration of Independence, current city leaders have a full day of celebrations planned downtown.
Here is a look at the schedule for Saturday in Central Park:
11 a.m. — Rededication of the Vasbinder Fountain
The fountain, recently restored thanks to a financial gift from the Richland County Foundation, was donated by David and Jane Vasbinder in 1881.
The event at the fountain will start with a flag raising by the Mansfield police and fire department color guards and the national anthem.
Public Works Director Louis Andres will emcee the event. It will include remarks by Mayor Jodie Perry, Todd Kleismit from the America250 Ohio Commission and city deputy engineer Blair McClenathan, who wrote a historical report on the fountain that led its restoration.
11:25 a.m. — Gazebo speaker
Richland County Juvenile Court Judge Steve McKinley will speak on the Declaration of Independence, introduced by Perry.
11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. — Picnic in the Park
The live band Jazz Connection will perform in Central Park. Residents are encouraged to bring their own food and drinks, along with chairs and blankets and enjoy lunch in the park.
Noon to 1:30 p.m. — Free Ice Cream Dessert
There will be free ice cream sandwiches and red, white and blue popsicles (while supplies last).
1 p.m. — Opening of Bicentennial Time Capsule
Perry will lead a ceremony in front of the Diamond Street entrance of the Municipal Building.
The time capsule was placed on July 4, 1976, when the nation celebrated its 200th birthday. Reports indicate it includes medals and campaign buttons from the bicentennial year, histories of the city and copies of the Mansfield News Journal.
The capsule was reportedly created to represent everyday life in 1976 for future generations.
The city has plans to place another time capsule to be opened on the country’s 300th birthday in 2076.
Additional free fun is planned all day at the Mansfield Speedway on Saturday.
According to the speedway website, the schedule includes:
— a powder puff race at 3 p.m.
— a “Battle of the Bangers” high school race at 3:30 p.m.
— a kids tractor pull from 3:45 p.m. to 4:10 p.m.
— OSTPA tractor pulls from 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m.
— a hot dog eating contest from 7:30 p.m. to 8:15 p.m.
— truck pull, burnouts and more, starting at 8:30 p.m.
— fireworks at 9:30 p.m.
