Playin ’ in the Park Sparks Fun for the Whole Family
By: Orange County Communications Department
Orange County Parks & Recreation held the Ninth Annual Playin ’ in the Park Independence Celebration on Friday, July 1, 2022 at Booster Park! The event has become an Orange County tradition, which began
when our County found itself without a public fireworks display to celebrate Independence Day in 2012. Parks & Recreation worked with other County departments to ensure that such an event took place in 2013, the first year of Playin ’ in the Park. Over the years, the event has consistently featured kids ’ activities, live music, and fireworks. This year ’ s event featured the longest fireworks show in event history, clocking it at a dazzling 16 minutes. However, the event was much more than just pyrotechnics. Touch - A - Truck offered the opportunity for children (and adults) to check out many of the cool vehicles they see serving the
Rappahannock Electric Cooperative roasts a hotdog to demonstrate the power of electrical lines.
community. Participants included Orange Volunteer Fire Company firetrucks, Orange County Sheriff ’ s Office and Town of Orange Police vehicles, a County of Orange Fire & EMS ambulance, and several pieces of Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) road maintenance equipment. Rappahannock Electric Cooperative (REC) was a new addition to this portion of the event, and made quite an impression with their “ live wire ” demonstration. Event goers looked on in awe as REC staff demonstrated the danger of live electrical wires by roasting hotdogs and more at the end of an insulated pole. The message was clear; do not approach downed power lines.
OCHS Football provided parking services.
Earthquest Inc. was another newcomer to the event, but not to Parks & Recreation activities. Their non - releasable birds of prey thrilled and educated attendees. Rounding out new participants, the student - athletes of the Orange County High School Football team provided parking services in exchange for freewill donations to support their program. Musical entertainment was provided by 103.1 WJMA for the beginning of the event, who passed the torch to Grassland Bluegrass Band as the evening continued. Grassland is no stranger to Playin ’ in the Park, and the organizers were glad to have them back onstage. For those who chose not to bring a picnic,
several food vendors were available, parked in a convenient food court arrangement around park picnic tables. Vendors included Barbara ’ s Soulfood, B - Radd & Honey, Buffalo Wild Wings, Kona Ice of Culpeper, and R U Freak ’ n Hungry.
The organizers would like to thank the many sponsors who made the event possible, including: the County of Orange, the Town of Orange, the Town of Gordonsville, Somerset Sod Farms, Rappahannock Electric Cooperative, 103.1 WJMA, Mason Insurance Agency, Reynolds GM Subaru, Piedmont Power, Skydive Orange, Altman Tire & Auto Sales, Mr. & Mrs. V. Rea Jones, Cowan Realty, and Orange Tire Inc.
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