CC 4th of July weekend preview: Water ball fights, pedal car races set for July 1-2

To the Press

Start lining up your teams for seriously fun competition this Fourth of July holiday weekend in Charles City.

The Chamber of Commerce is organizing a Water Ball Fight contest on Friday, July 1, as well as Pedal Car Races on Saturday, July 2. Both competitions are open to anyone, and both will feature prize money for the winning teams.

“The past few years we have had the bed races and the committee decided to mix things up a bit,” Community Development Director Mark Wicks said. “We are partnering with the fire department to offer water ball fights this year, and with Boy Scout Troop 1087 to do pedal car races. This way not only can we have business vs. business and open competitions, but families can compete together if they want. Each contest is open to all ages.”

Water ball fights involve two teams of three people each, with each team wielding a high-pressure fire hose and trying to use their stream of water to move a barrel suspended above and between them on a wire. Whichever team is able to move the barrel across the other’s finish line wins … a reverse tug-of-war, if you will. Team members must wear protective firefighter gear during the water ball fights which will be provided by the Charles City Fire Department.

A children’s version of water ball fights will be offered earlier in the day on July 1 as part of the Kids Day activities. It will be set up near the Arts Center on North Jackson Street.

Then starting at 6 p.m., competition shifts to the family division first, followed at 7 p.m. by a business division and at 8 p.m. by an open division. A double-elimination format will be used, so each team is assured of at least two cracks at the barrel.

The winning team in each division will receive a $50 cash prize and bragging rights, while the runner-up will receive 10 Fourth of July Celebration tokens that can be used for food, beverage or games in Central Park throughout the holiday weekend.

The entry fee is $10 per team, with registration forms available in advance from the Chamber office at 401 N. Main St., online at www.charlescitychamber.com, or at the event the day of the competition.

On Saturday, July 2, pedal car races will be featured, using  the new pedal cars recently purchased by Boy Scout Troop 1087. There are car sizes from youth to adults up to 350 pounds, so again this competition is open to all ages. There will be a family division at 6 p.m., followed by an open/business division at 7:30 p.m.

Each team will consist of four members, the first three of which must do one down and back lap on the course and switch out drivers. Then the fourth driver will have to complete two laps before crossing the finish line.

Up to three teams can race at the same time, with the three fastest times in each division to square off in the championship round.

The first-place division winner will receive $80 in prize money, while the runner-up will receive $40 in cash and the third-place team $20 in Fourth of July Celebration tokens to use in the park.

The entry fee for the pedal Car Races will be $20, with registration forms available in advance from the Chamber office at 401 N. Main St., online at www.charlescitychamber.com, or at the event the day of the competition.

The Boy Scout pedal cars will also be available throughout most of the July 1-4 celebration to ride for fun as a fundraiser for the troop.

For more information on either competition, or the Fourth of July Celebration overall, call the Chamber office at (641) 228-4234, email info@charlescitychamber.com or go to www.charlescitychamber.com.

— 20160624 —