Hill City is having its 125^th birthday celebration in conjunction with the annual Independence Day celebration on Thursday, July 4, 2013.  Events will kick-off at noon on Thursday in the downtown City Park where vendors will be offering food and drink for a charge.  The Millbrook Lodge is planning to offer “Pulled Pork Sandwiches” and more; the Graham County Fair Board will feature a Beer Garden; a lemonade stand will be available; watermelon will be served (seed spitting contests can also be expected); and other food and drink items will be available.

Also at noon, City of Hill City officials will conduct a dedication of the restrooms made possible in both the west City Park and in the Fairview Park by donations from the Dane G. Hansen Foundation and a “125-year Proclamation” by Hill City Mayor Larry L. Lyder.

Coed Sand Volleyball is listed to begin at 1:00 p.m. on the court in the southeast City Park.  The four-team person teams should include two men and two women and rally scoring will be used.  Turtle, Frog and Toad Races are set to begin at 2:00 p.m. on the basketball courts in the City Park.

“Bed Races” are the 3:00 p.m. feature, with the races to begin in front of City Hall.  Beds will be provided or you can bring your own, and it must have a mattress or box springs and four wheels.  “Bed Race” teams will include five individuals with four pushers and one rider.  It was noted by City Administrator Dennis Mersch that “1888 costumes are optional”.

The always-popular “Water Slide” for all ages will be held in the southeast section of the City Park starting at 4:00 p.m.

A “Free Day of Golf” at Hill City’s Prairie Trails Golf Course will be available on Thursday July 4, with kids under the age 16 required to have adult supervision to participate.  Golfers are required to wear soft spike shoes (no ball shoes permitted); carts are to remain on the cart paths; and there should be no more than five persons in a group with the free admission offer in effect from 8:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. at the course on the east edge of Hill City.

Free swimming will be available all day long at the Hill City Swimming Pool, with the “free swim” policy implemented this year by the City of Hill City.

There will be free music with the band 3X7 playing in City Park starting at 7:00 p.m. and Country Highway will play at Ringneck Stadium starting at 8:30 until after fireworks.  Other special entertainment, whether in the form of a talent show or just special numbers, is being organized for the afternoon hours in the City Park.  During the afternoon modeling of early day apparel and with readings and demonstrations appropriate for the one hundred and twenty-five years of history of the City of Hill City.

The early evening hours will see the emphasis moving to the Ringneck Stadium area where musical entertainment will be provided starting at 8:30 p.m., followed by the traditional fireworks display.