Poker bike run, tug of war, mud run part of Mountain City Independence Day

A poker bike run, tug of war, mud run, shorter parade route at a new time, music and, of course, fireworks will be part of Mountain City's Independence Day celebration in July. With fellow members of the Johnson County VFW Post 6908, John Kob has helped organize the Independence Day Parade in recent years. On March 5, Kob spoke at the Johnson County Democratic Party about what'll be going on that day. Admitting some ideas have worked great and others haven't, Kob said they're bringing them together for America 250. In 2025, live music and vendors were set up in downtown Mountain City starting at 2 p.m., but the crowds were sparse until the 6 p.m. parade. The Saturday, July 4, kickoff event will be a Poker Run bicycle ride from Damascus, Va., to Mountain City, starting at 10 a.m. Kob said law enforcement in each jurisdiction is on board and will escort the cyclists. At 12 p.m., there will be first responder tug-of-war games at 88 U.S. 421 North, the future site of the VFW. Kob said the losers will face the consequences of being pulled into a mud pit. "Right now ... the police department won't be able to partake because they're pretty much inundated throughout the day," Kob said. "The sheriff's department, I think, can put up a team. The paramedics can put up a team. Firefighters can put up a team. We reached out to the linemen with the electrical co-op and the county highway department, looking for the big dogs to come out and let's get to pulling. While at the future VFW site, a three-mile mud run will take place at 2 p.m. The parade is being moved up to 4 p.m. this year on a shorter route. The parade will line up in the Mountain City Elementary's pickup line, go out to Shady Street, then turn down Main Street heading east to the former Food Country building. Kob said it was nice starting at the high school, but doing Honor Guard walking down Church Street and then Main Street was tough with some 80-some-year-olds. "We're opening up the parade to tractors, side-by-sides, emergency vehicles, if you want to get in there and you want to walk, cool beans, bring it," Kob said. After the parade and a playing of the National Anthem, the family fun zone in Ralph Stout Park commences. Vendors will be set up along with bouncy houses, three-legged races, wheelbarrow races, bouncy houses and much more. "This is a friendly hometown, and that's kind of the mindset we're trying to bring with us," Kob said. "It's like just remember what the hometowns are made of, just the simplistic part of this. We don't have all the money to do all the New York City fireworks and all that stuff, but by golly, we could throw a parade and we could have a good day out there for people." A stage will be set up in front of the pond facing toward the park for a band to play for two hours, with local pickers interspersed. This will allow people to remain where they are set up and look at the fireworks once the sun sets. Kob said he's got an organization lined up to clean up the park post-fireworks, so the next day, it won't look like a trash heap. Kob is always looking for volunteers. Organizing meetings are held every other week at the VFW Hall, with the next one on March 24, starting at 5:30 p.m. Kob said anyone interested in helping out or sponsoring the day's events can reach him at 910-299-6204. "Whatever ideas that you may have that we can do, we're wide open," Kob said.