CARTHAGE, Mo. — Carthage residents couldn’t ask for more all-American entertainment. Close on the heels of a successful chautauqua comes an Independence Day celebration and a county fair.

The City Council is again sponsoring a fireworks display on July 4 to honor the birth of our nation. The council approved a $15,000 package from A.M. Pyrotechnics that will be set off at dusk Friday in Carthage Municipal Park.

Boy Scouts of America, Troop 9, will begin the festivities with a flag procession at 4:15 p.m. Kevin Perdomo, winner of the Women’s Service League’s “American Idol” contest, will lead the audience in the national anthem.

At 5:30 p.m., Matt Coleman and the Honky Tonk Company Band from Jasper will bring country music to the stage, according to Nancy Sanders, chairwoman of the event. Kentucky 31, a bluegrass music group, will play from 7 to 8 p.m., followed by vocal solos by Sarah Brown and possibly others, Sanders said. The Heartland Concert Band will play from 8:30 p.m. until time for the fireworks begin.

Sanders said the Lions Club will have a food booth, and Carthage police and firemen will be on hand to deal with any safety concerns.

n The Jasper County Youth Fair opens Saturday, with a full week of activities planned. A new beef barn and show ring will be the setting for many of the events. “We encourage people to come out and look at it,” said Tom Howard, president of the fair board. “It’s a very nice building.”

He said the barn and show ring are the second phase of a three-phase renovation of the fairgrounds at Municipal Park. The sheep barn was renovated last year. The third phase will consist of a new community building where exhibits are displayed. Various grant and foundation funds are making the projects possible.

Saturday’s offerings include a cat show at 2 p.m. at the Old Cabin Shop on Mound Street, and a dog show at 5 p.m. in the main arena.

On Sunday, candidates for youth fair queen, princess and Little Miss and Mister will have interviews and a social at the fairgrounds. Alicia Stark, of the Carthage FFA, and Julie Ziler, representing the Lincoln 4-H Club, are vying for the royal title this year. There are 11 contestants for princess, 11 for Little Miss and three for Little Mister. Chairwoman Kelli Nolting said the queen pageant will be at 6 p.m. Tuesday, July 8, in the main show arena.

The speech contest takes place at 5 p.m. Monday, July 7, in the agriculture building, followed by the horse and mule show at 6 p.m. in the Saddle Club Arena. Rabbit, guinea pig and FFA small exhibit shows are slated for Tuesday, July 8. Poultry and goat shows will be held the following day.

One of the most popular events is the pee-wee show, in which children ages 3-7 show their bucket calves, goats, sheep and pigs. That event is scheduled for 7 p.m. Wednesday, July 9.

“The grandmas and grandpas are more proud than the parents are, I think,” said Howard.

Highlights for Thursday, July 10, include the steer, sheep and swine shows. Friday, July 11, is the date for the dairy and beef breeds shows, and a “celebrity” milking contest, with area business people doing their part to amuse fairgoers. The fat market sale begins at 7 p.m., followed by the exhibitors’ dance.

Several events conclude the fair on Saturday, July 12, including the sheep lead line, livestock judging contest, pedal tractor pull (for ages 2-10), beautiful baby contest and the Kountry Kritters pet show. At 7 p.m., fair exhibitors will receive awards in the main show arena.

Wednesday through Saturday, July 9-12, the Cardinal Amusement Carnival will be open from 6 to 11 p.m. Hometown Bank is sponsoring continental breakfasts for exhibitors Thursday and Friday, July 10-11. Southwest Missouri Bank holds its 16th annual watermelon feed at 7 p.m. Thursday, July 10. Carl Junction FFA is sponsoring a breakfast from 7 to 9 a.m. Saturday, July 12.