Once again, strong support from local businesses and residents helped make the Hockessin 4th of July celebration a success.
From the relay races in the morning through the parade in the afternoon to the fireworks at dusk, residents, businesspeople and many friends of Hockessin gathered to create a fun-filled, family-oriented patriotic celebration.
On behalf of Barry’s Events, the festival’s producer for both 2017 and 2018, we would like to thank the contributors whose generous donations enabled us to cover the celebration’s costs, the individuals who persistently reached out to our donors to secure those contributions, and to the many individuals and groups who provided essential support on the day of the event.
We tip Uncle Sam’s red, white and blue top hat to:
Platinum sponsors: New Castle County government and WSFS Bank.
Gold sponsors: Hockessin Athletic Club, M&T Bank and the News Journal Media Group.
Silver sponsors: Acme Supermarkets, Berea Presbyterian Church / Good News Church, B&F Towing Co., Chandler Funeral Homes, Dew Point Brewing Co., Evergreen Waste Services, Friends of Laura Sturgeon, Harvest Market, Hockessin Business Association, Movies on Tap and Wild Birds Unlimited.
Bronze sponsors: American Design and Build, Blue Hen Car Wash, CBM Insurance, Ferris Home Improvement, Gateway Garden Center, State Senator Greg Lavelle, Hickory Hill Civic Association, Hockessin Hardware, Mealey Funeral Home, Patterson-Schwartz Real Estate, Performance Physical Therapy, Prima’s Pizza and Pasta, Six Paupers, Stone Mill Plaza, LLC, and Woodside Farm Creamery.
Also deserving of a salute are:
Fundraising committee members: Charles Shattuck, Wild Birds Unlimited; Sandy King, Geiger Promotion Products; Lisa Maguire, Hockessin Athletic Club; Kevin Barrow, Prima’s Pizza and Pasta; Peg Castorani, Gateway Gardens; Suzan Carter, WSFS Bank; Ana Yevonishon, Expressions Photography, and Michele Priest, Barry’s Events.
Event fundraisers: Rebecca Dowling, Hockessin Bookshelf; Hillary King, and Grace Otley, who dressed as Moana during the parade.
Logistics Planning Committee members: Charles Shattuck, Wild Birds Unlimited; Sandy King, Geiger Promotion Products; Lisa Maguire and Dave Mulvena, Hockessin Athletic Club; New Castle County Police Lt. Michael Bradshaw; State and New Castle County Police; Kevin Barrow, Prima’s Pizza and Pasta; Peg Castorani, Gateway Gardens; Suzan Carter, WSFS Bank; Ana Yevonishon, Expressions Photography; Hockessin Fire Company President Dan Carrier; Ryland Shattuck, Cindy Gamble and Michele Priest.
Other key supporters included: the Hockessin Fire Company, New Castle County Police and the county’s County Community Services Department; parade masters of ceremonies Janet Kilpatrick and Mike Ramone; the Delaware Rush Soccer Club; Piedmont Baseball; Team WSFS volunteers; relay organizers at the Hockessin Athletic Club; Heather Bidgood; Celebration Fireworks; the cleanup crew; and festival vendors, Dew Point Brewing Company, Woodside Farm Creamery, Koi on the Go, I Don’t Give a Fork, Ole Tapas, Famous Sgt Balan BBQ, Cajun Sno, Copperfield Kettle Corn, Deerhead Hot Dogs, Kimos Shaved Ice, and Mr. Softee.
While we are proud of our success in producing this year’s celebration, we learn more each year and we strive to do better in the future. Our goals for 2019 include getting an earlier start to both our planning and our fundraising. Committees for the 2019 festivities will begin forming in October 2018. Contact us at info@hockessin4thofjuly.org to join the efforts. We can’t wait until Memorial Day to start thinking seriously about the 4th of July. Again, we thank you for all you have done this year and we welcome your support and encouragement as we look ahead to an outstanding celebration next year.
Barry Schlecker, producer, Barry’s Events
