A chicken barbecue will be one highlight of Independence Day festivities in Wrightsville. The barbecue will benefit the Rotary Club of Eastern York County and will be held in the parking lot of Wrightsville Hope United Methodist Church, 404 Hellam St., from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, July 2. Dinners will include a half-chicken, a baked potato, applesauce, a roll and butter and a beverage. Chicken will be available a la carte, as well. Preorders are encouraged and may be made by calling Sharon at 717-252-1116 or Kathy at 717-968-0679; callers may leave a message at either number.

Also on July 2, Susquehanna Fish and Game will hold a trap shoot at 7084 Roundtop Lane in Wrightsville, with participation for various age groups. Gates will open at 9 a.m. for registration, and the event will begin at 10 a.m.

Starting at 6 p.m., a variety of activities will take place at John Wright Restaurant, 234 N. Front St., Wrightsville. Funny Faces will offer face painting for a charge, and the Rotary Club will sell funnel cakes, french fries, ice cream and bottled water. At 7 p.m., a candy and peanut scramble will be held on the lawn, with opportunities for children ages 2 to 12 in four age groups. Participants should bring their own bag.

From 6:30 to 9 p.m., the Twin Rose Community Band will entertain, and people are encouraged to bring a lawn chair to enjoy the concert. "The band is a mainstay in Wrightsville," said Phil Lehman, chair of the Fourth of July committee. "They play a variety of songs. It's an assortment of music that appeals to a wide range of people."

Following the concert, fireworks will begin at 9:30 p.m. People are encouraged to come early as parking will be limited in the area.

Proceeds from the chicken barbecue and food stands will benefit projects of the Rotary Club of Eastern York County, Lehman noted, including a scholarship for a graduating senior at Eastern York High School. "We are also sponsoring six students this year who are attending the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards conference at Messiah University," he noted.

Lehman said the Fourth of July festivities in Wrightsville are a tradition people look forward to every year. "It's a nice day to have fun in the community," he stated. "Come out to catch up with people you maybe haven't seen for a number of years. It's a great day."