The planning is nearly complete and now it’s up to the weatherman to provide great weather for Belle Plaine’s annual Fourth of July celebration.

The city’s big celebration, which is sometimes called a “community homecoming,” kicks off Friday afternoon on Main Street with the annual car show and cruise. In the past, more than 80 custom cars and motorcycles have lined 12^th Street while hundreds of spectators choose their favorites. The show will run from 4-8 p.m. and music will be provided by DJ Spoon.

After the show and subsequent cruise, Main Street will be turned into a giant dance floor for a street dance from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m., featuring the music of the band, Hard Barney.

Saturday morning, festivities begin with the annual parade down 12^th Street at 10 a.m. At noon, the action moves to Franklin Park, with a flag raising at noon. There will be a tractor pull, midway games, 4-on-4 basketball tournament, sand volleyball tournament, craft show and bingo.

From noon until 4 p.m., the Belle Plaine cheerleaders will be offering face painting. The Gold Medal wrestlers will sponsor a flush tank from noon until 6 p.m. There will be a Pro Video fishing game from 1-4 p.m., karaoke contest featuring Class A Karaoke Service from 2-4 p.m. and cow chip bingo at 4 p.m.

There will be plenty of entertainment, including the Touch of Sparkles east of the bingo pavilion at 12:30 p.m., music by Mike Lasack and his Rhythmaires polka band from noon to 1:30 p.m. by the beer tent and Don Anders Trio + 1 from 2-4 p.m. near the beer tent.

Class A Karaoke & DJ Service will play from 2-10 p.m., the Belle Plaine High School Jazz Band will perform from 4:30-5:30 p.m. and the rock band Cross Trainer will play from 6-7:30 p.m.

There will be plenty of food and refreshments throughout the day. St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Luzerne, will be in charge of the main food booth. The Belle Plaine High School cheerleaders will sell cotton candy, Dollars for Scholars will offer snow cones and funnel cakes, the Gold Medal Wrestling Club will sell Pizza Hut pizza, the Rotary Club will have Kentucky Fried Chicken and the July 4^th Committee will sponsor the beer tent.

The July 4^th Committee is sponsoring a raffle featuring many great prizes, including a top prize of $250. Tickets are available at MidWestOne Bank, Chelsea Savings Bank, True Value and Country Foods. The raffle drawing will be at 7:30 p.m. on July 4^th, preceding the city’s biggest and best fireworks display at dusk.