Clearwater Heritage Days starts Friday (Aug. 2), and this year the celebration has moved its location.

 

Instead of the traditional spot at the Shopping Plaza parking lot, this year’s event starts on Main Street and finishes at the Driftwood Golf Course parking area.

 

Most of Friday’s regular schedule is the same. The action begins with the Kiddie Parade at 4:30 p.m. at Driftwood and concludes at 4:45 p.m. 

 

Once the Kiddie Parade is over, Family Fun night begins with activities like rock climbing, facepainting, hair decorating, the bungee trampoline and inflatable activities for kids.

 

The traditional Lions dinner starts at 5 p.m. with all-you-can-eat corn on the cob, brats, chips, fixins, beverages and Lions Beer Gardens. 

Abe Meier will lead the square dancers beginning 5:30 p.m. And everyone will have a chance to eat, play and mingle before the parade starts at 7 p.m.

 

The parade will line up near Riverside Park, then travel along Main Street towards Driftwood.  Expect to see dozens of floats, organizations, vehicles, marchers and entertainment, beginning with the  Clearwater Color Guard. 

 

Following the parade is the Clearwater Ambassador presentation at Driftwood, where the current royalty will pass their crowns and sashes to this year’s ambassadors. Every year, there are groups of visiting royalty from area cities and towns to join in the celebration.

 

The evening continues with DJ music, more Family Fun activities, and the fireworks show begins at dusk (about 9:30 p.m.).

 

Saturday’s action begins with the Rendezvous Historical Reenactors at Riverside Park, who will re-create  how early settlers in the area lived, with a blacksmith, woodworkers, crafts persons, archers and more. The group will be there throughout the day.

 

The craft and vendor sale takes place in the upper parking lot at Driftwood at 10 a.m. and runs until 3 p.m.

 

The Clearwater Fire Dept. open house takes place at the fire hall from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. Kids get to use a fire hose, try on fire gear, take a ride on a fire truck, navigate an obstacle course and watch firefighters put out a car fire.

 

Clearwater Corners is holding its beanbag tournament starting at 1 p.m. Lots of fun and cheer always.

 

And again this year, the Clearwater Legion Riders are hosting a homeless veterans fundraiser, with a pork chop dinner, silent auction and street dance from 4 p.m. until 11:30 p.m. at the Legion.

 

This year’s parade down Main Street will be the first time that’s happened since the Clearwater 150th Anniversary Celebration back in 2005, and it should be lots of fun.

 

So get there early, find a spot and enjoy!