July 4 in Highlands will be a historic celebration as the town marks the nation’s 250th birthday, or the Semiquincentennial, with a full day of traditional small-town activities.
The celebration features a mix of classic, long-standing events at the town ball field, live music, and evening fireworks.
The Rotary Club of Highlands is planning an enhanced experience this year in honor of our country’s 250th birthday! A special edition of the Duck Derby T-shirts will be for sale, 1,776 ducks will brave the rapids, and 1,500 hot dogs will be given away for free (celebratory donations will be happily accepted!).
9:00 – 11:00 A.M.: The day blasts off with the Water Rocket Launch at the Town Ball Field. The Rotary Club will have 300 rockets ready to give away on a first-come, first-served basis, with one rocket per child and no age limit on children. Young rocketeers can decorate their rockets, attach the nose cones, and get them launch-ready before countdown. Powered by nothing more than water and air pressure, these crowd-favorite rockets can often be launched again and again. Sending them skyward will be Corena Dearth, a local eighth grader, and Eli Taylor, with many volunteers on hand to help keep the action going.
12:00 – 1:00 P.M.: The Rotary Club of Highlands hosts its annual Free Hot Dog Lunch at the ball field, often drawing massive crowds. The club has ordered 1,500 dogs that will be “sold” for free – of course, donations are welcome! Condiments? Ketchup always wins out over mustard.
11:00 A.M. – Noon: Traditional Field Games for all ages take place at the ball field. The sack race, tug-of-war, and three-legged race are always crowd-pleasers.
2:00 P.M.: The Annual Rotary Club Rubber Ducky Derby takes place at Mill Creek. Derby tickets are for sale for $10 each from strolling Rotarians. All 1,776 ducks make a dramatic 10-foot drop from the Spruce Street Bridge and paddle furiously for about 100 yards down Mill Creek. The most exciting three minutes in Highlands are duckumented by Duck Derby Influencer Charlotte Muir in a live stream. (Listen in on the Rotary’s Facebook page if you’re not downtown!) The finish line is located at the Walking Bridge adjacent to The Stubborn Bull. The lucky person holding the ticket with the winning duck’s number wins $400!
In 2025, the Rotary Club raised over $10,000 for the many community causes it supports. This year, there are more ducks in the race, T-shirts and commemorative ducks are for sale, and enthusiasm is running high! Do you think the Rotary could meet a stretch goal of $17,760 this year?
Location: Most daytime events occur at the Highlands Town Ball Field, while evening music is at Kelsey-Hutchinson Founders Park.
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