Each annual 4th of July celebration at Lititz Springs Park is better than the one that preceded it. This year's patriotic community event commemorating our country's 250th birthday may be the best local 4th of July celebration ever.

"There is that pressure to outdo what you did last year," said Kellye Martin, who's been the chair of the Lititz Springs Park board's 4th of July committee for nine years. "But people do like the simplicity of it. We try to think of something new to add, but it's not necessarily modern. Newer or different doesn't always mean modern.

"We've had this date in mind for years," added Martin. "We also know we have a great celebration established. We wanted to keep what people were expecting of us and add a couple of new things."

The Lititz Springs Park board's 209th Independence Day festivities will officially get underway at noon on Saturday, July 4, at the park at 24 N. Broad St. But the official 4th of July celebration will be preceded by a week of local patriotic events, leading up to the yearly Lions Club parade through town beginning at 11 a.m. on July 4 - not to mention the annual blanket race for prime fireworks viewing spots at 7 a.m. on that day.

"We just hope people have a great time," said Martin. "We hope they make a memory at some point throughout the day, a moment they will take with them. That's what we do it for."

For 10 afternoon and evening hours, more than 24 smaller events and activities will be staged within the grassy confines of Lititz Springs Park on the 4th of July. They will include everything from four entertainment acts at the band shell; five activities like carnival games and barrel train rides inside the kids' zone; and traditional events like the pie eating contest, the baby parade, the DJ dance party and the queen of candles ceremony. The park board's 35-minute fireworks display set to a musical soundtrack will shoot off at 9:30 p.m.

More than 26 food vendors, including food trucks, will be on hand on that special day.

There are fees associated with entrance to the holiday festivities at Lititz Springs Park. The event is being sponsored by more than 35 businesses and organizations.

"Our fireworks are so great," said Martin, a resident of Warwick Township. "But the candle lighting is my favorite part. There's something about candle lighting over water that takes your breath away. It's kind of like the pinnacle of the day."

More than 13,000 individuals - mostly from the Lititz area - are expected to attend the Lititz Springs Park's 4th of July celebration. It takes more than 200 volunteers to stage the event, from planning, which begins in September, to post-celebration cleanup.

"They are people who love Lititz," said Martin. "They are people who love this event. They are people who enjoy working next to their neighbors. They're almost all local. I'm so thankful we have volunteers who want to be a part of this event. They make this event happen."

Members of the Lititz Springs Park board are seeking to realize about $100,000 from the 4th of July celebration.

"The funds generally put us in a pretty good position for the year," said Martin. "There's also a goal of keeping the tradition going. The proceeds go toward paying the salaries of the grounds crew, maintenance, repair and special projects like painting, paving and walkways. We have a wish list. We always hope there's something left over so we can do something nice."

Much has changed since Independence Day was first celebrated in Lititz Springs Park in the early 1800s. But the patriotic community event has stayed true to its original purpose.

"I think the goals now are similar to the first ones, to raise money for the park," said Martin. "Back then, they had plans to make the stream what it is today. From what I've read, the goal was to bring the community together, and we definitely have the same goal. I think a lot of those things ring true today."

For additional information, go to http://www.lititz4thofjuly.com.