The public is invited to attend the City of Salem’s Bicentennial Celebration on Saturday, July 1. A day full of activities at Bryan Memorial Park is planned. A 5K race sponsored by the Marion County YMCA will kick off the day at 8:30 a.m. Registration is now open through the Marion County YMCA at Salem City Hall or online at www.gwrymca.org/marioncounty. The race will be followed at 10:00 a.m. by the dedication of the Never Forget Garden Marker at the Williams Jennings Bryan Statue Garden.
A sand volleyball tournament is also planned. Sand volleyball teams need to register in advance for the tournament by emailing alaird35@gmail.com.
Events continue with Salem Rotary and other civic organizations hosting two sessions of historic portrayals at 11:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. Along with the first Illinois Battery D Light Artillery Reenactment Group.
Salem Rotary will have a free kids Bubble Zone along with old fashioned root beer and orange soda floats for sale. Other kids activities will be ongoing from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Plus a variety of food trucks will be set up on GAR Drive near the band stage with operating hours of 11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. A vendor fair is also in the works. If any craft vendor is interested in participating, please contact Tabitha Meador at Salem City Hall at 618-548-2222, ext. 20.
