Fill up on food and fun when Wrightsville celebrates the Fourth of July. The festivities will be held on Monday, July 5, beginning with a chicken barbecue hosted by the Rotary Club of Eastern York County. The barbecue will be held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Wrightsville Hope United Methodist Church, 404 Hellam St. Preorders are encouraged and may be made by calling 717-252-1116 or 717-252-1856. Limited delivery will also be available and can be arranged by calling 717-968-0679.

In past years, the Wrightsville Fourth of July Celebration has been a daylong event, but the majority of the activities are canceled this year due to the pandemic, said Phil Lehman, chair of the committee. "We hope to bring them back next year," he said of activities that included a baby contest, bike show, pet contest and basketball shoot. "But for this year, we're still doing food and music and, of course, fireworks."

Evening festivities will begin at 6 p.m. at John Wright Restaurant, 234 N. Front St., Wrightsville. The Rotary Club will sell french fries and funnel cakes, and Wrightsville Fire and Rescue Company 41 will sell sandwiches and beverages. Live music will begin at 6:30 p.m. "We'll have the Twin Rose Community Band performing, and they'll play until about 9 p.m. or dusk," Lehman said. The fireworks will begin at 9:30 p.m.

Proceeds from the Fourth of July events will benefit projects of the Rotary Club. "We support a lot of community groups and organizations," Lehman said. "Eastern York School District is a big recipient of our funds."

He encouraged everyone to come out to Wrightsville for the festivities. "It's a nice community day," he stated. "It's a time for neighbors to get together and have fun, have some good conversations. It really brings people together."

Lehman has been overseeing the Fourth of July activities since the early 1970s, but his participation goes back even further. "I used to ride my bike in the bike contest in the 1950s," he recalled. Now 75 years old, he's looking to find someone to take over his duties. "I'm hoping to be stepping down this year," he explained. "It's time for somebody else to step up and take over. I have enjoyed doing this, but it's time for a change."

For more information on the Wrightsville Fourth of July Celebration or to volunteer, contact Lehman at 717-252-1856.