BLANCHESTER — Not many communities outdo the Village of Blanchester when it comes to celebrating our nation’s birthday.

And this year the village’s tradition continues with the annual Red, White and Blanchester Blue July 4th Festival that will light up the area in more ways than one on July 3-4. The event is presented by the Blanchester Area Chamber of Commerce.

This year’s schedule includes:

Monday, July 3, 6-10 p.m.

• Karaoke

• Dancing in the Streets

• Pie eating contest

• Food and retail vendors

• Shopping

• Crafts

Tuesday, July 4, 10 a.m.-9 p.m.

• Parade line-up at 9 a.m.

• Parade starts at 11 a.m.

• Food and retail vendors

• Quiet Storm Band, noon-6 p.m.

• Inflatables

• Fireworks at dusk

The festival is possible due to the generosity of sponsors including: Fireworks sponsors Clinton Memorial Hospital, McDonald’s, Universal Forest Products, The Laurels, American Showa, Evans Funeral Homes, First National Bank, Tufts-Schildmeyer Funeral Home, Intelli Choise, WICO Products, Blanchester Foundry, Continental Manor Nursing Home, Panetta Excavating, Peoples Bank, Danaye Frank-Irongate Realtors, Allen Company, American Legion, Catherine LaRuffa MD, NCB, DoWop Rod & Customs, J.S. Porter Law Office LLC, and Chubby’s Pizza. Parade trophy sponsors are Ronald J. McHenry and Falgner Realty. Prize sponsors are BDK Feed & Supply and Gold Star Chili. Printing is donated by Curless Printing. Pies for the pie-eating contest are donated by Kroger Co.

Thanks to Blanchester Village Council, Board of Public Affairs, Blanchester Police Department, Blanchester-Marion Twp. Joint Fire Department, and Russ Kidd for their help and support.

For more information, visit www.redwhiteandblanchesterblue.com or www.blanchesterchamber.com.