By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

The city of Hays’ annual Fourth of July celebration, Wild West Festival, starts Wednesday and continues through Saturday.

This is the 20th year for the event, and volunteer committee members said, as usual, there will be lots of fun, food and concerts.

The parade along Main Street, with the theme “Home of the Free Because of the Brave,” starts at 10 a.m. Saturday, shortly after the 5K Run/Walk and Hays Med CHI Family Workout.

Although Hays city commissioners waited until Monday evening to lift the fireworks ban for consumers, the WWF Free Fireworks Spectacular has always been a go for 10 p.m. July 4. Longtime volunteer coordinator Tom Meiers said the Hays Fire Department will have a crew on standby:

The All American Citizen Award will be announced and presented at 7 p.m. Saturday on the WWF stage in Municipal Park.

The Heart of America Carnival open will be open each evening 6 to 10 p.m.

Admission has been kept low over the years, said volunteer Bob Swift, thanks to the many WWF sponsors:

Historical interpreter Dave Wood, aka Wild Bill Hickock, will portray the former Ellis County sheriff at the Ellis County Historical Society.

A complete list of events and ticket information is available on the Wild West Festival website.