BAMBERG -- Music, kids' games and fireworks will highlight the city of Bamberg's annual 4th of July Celebration at the Ness Sports Complex on Saturday, with all the fun slated to kick off at 2 p.m.

This year's festival is being combined with the city's Treasure-fest, which was formerly held in September.

Children's activities will include sidewalk art, face painting, kickball, a magic show and a relay race. A dunking booth, with local celebrities on hand to take the plunge, is also on tap.

A tug-of-war between local companies is also scheduled, along with fire safety training provided by the Bamberg Fire Department. All-day events include a petting zoo, water slide, bounce houses and opportunities to make school supply donations.

"We just hope for everybody to participate," said Bamberg City Councilwoman Teresa Hannibal, who is chairing the committee putting together year's event. "After their family cookouts … we hope they come out and enjoy the fun."

A highlight of each year's festival is the music, which will include local and regional talent such as the band Northwood & Faust and Otis Taylor, formerly of The Drifters. The finale will be a performance by country singer David Cooler and his band.

Hannibal said the 4th of July Celebration is a prime opportunity to showcase Bamberg.

"We are featuring our local talent, and it's showing what Bamberg has to offer," she said.

Once again, a fireworks show will cap off the festival, presented by two Bamberg industries, Phoenix Specialty Manufacturing and Tobul Accumulator.

A complete schedule of events for Saturday's celebration can be found at the city of Bamberg's Web site, bambergsc.com.

T&D Correspondent Phyllis A. Overstreet can be reached by e-mail at paoverstreet@bellsouth.net. Discuss this and other stories online at TheTandD.com.

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