The Fourth of July is a big deal in Petersburg, so big that the town starts celebrating early. For a decade, the Lighthouse Assembly of God has hosted the annual July 3 mainstreet events — but this will be their last year hosting.
The church is giving leadership over the day’s festivities back to the Petersburg Chamber of Commerce.
Pastor Nathan Lopez has led the events all 10 years. When the chamber asked the church if they would help run the July 3 events, Lopez said he thought of the Fourth of July celebrations he remembered from his childhood in Petersburg.
“I took all my inspiration of those days when I was a kid, and all the different types of competitions that we did back then,” said Lopez.
It takes a lot of work and a lot of experimenting to make these events a success. Celebrations this year include familiar games, like the watermelon eating contest and the bubble gum eating contest. There will also be some new ones, like the “Liberty Pucker Sour Challenge,” where participants have to suck on a sour candy without making a face.
After running the July 3 games for so many years, the church has preparing for them down to a science. Lopez said that when they first started, it took half a year to prepare. Now, it takes a little over a month.
He said the community is worth the work.
“It is so worth it after all those hours, like actually watching everybody down there, just belly laughing when they see somebody do something funny, and watching everybody cheer for somebody when they win a competition,” said Lopez. “And watching these little kids, these four year olds, and their parents are taking every cool moment picture that’s going to be with them for the rest of their lives.”
However, 2025 will be the church’s last year hosting the games. Lopez said they felt that the decade-mark would be a good time to transition the games back to Petersburg’s chamber of commerce.
Because it’s the final year, Lopez said they’re going out with a bang: in addition to the expected games, there are also surprise games and prizes in store for celebrations throughout the day.
“Come down all day,” he encouraged. “Because you never know when we’re going to throw in a prize opportunity, or someone could win $100 cash!”
The mainstreet events run from 1–5 p.m. on July 3. More information on all of the Fourth of July events can be found here.
