By Brandi Makuski

The fifth annual Celebrate Plover is only weeks away, and officials in Plover say this year will be the best yet.

Several kids wade in Lake Pacawa at dusk during the 2015 Celebrate Plover. (City Times photo)

Event co-chairs Dan Mahoney and Tim Cisewski say some details are still being finalized, but this year’s event will include food and beverages for purchase, live music all day, a volleyball tournament, craft vendors and a corporate center, as well as an expended youth activities area.

“Last year we had some climb-through type of inflatables, jousting and a sumo-type of event and those were big hits, so we’re just going to expand on that this year, but we’re still working out he details,” said Mahoney, who is also the village administrator. “This year they’re also bringing in a Velcro Wall, so that will certainly be fun for the kids.”

A veterans tribute will also be held just prior to the fire department water fights. Cisewski, assistant chief/EMT for the Plover Fire Department, said the water fights — a friendly competition between fire hose teams from several local departments — are one of the biggest draws at Celebrate Plover.

Many residents consider Celebrate Plover have the best show in the area. (City Times photo)

The night is capped off with a choreographed fireworks show which is timed to a variety of popular rock, country, Top 40 and jazz music.

Plover’s fireworks program differs greatly from those held at Riverfront Rendezvous intentionally, Ciewski said, because the village wasn’t looking to duplicate what Stevens Point offered during the July 4th holiday.

“When it comes to the fireworks, you can’t compare them [with Stevens Point],” Cisewski said, who added some of the fireworks are discharged from multiple sides of Lake Pacawa. “We have unique park, we can do something different. The choreographed fireworks was something we intentionally went after.”

Admission is free to Celebrate Plover, which is held at Lake Pacawa Park on July 30. For more information, find the group on Facebook.