Danville celebrates Independence Day

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Adam Goebel grabbed a sheet of purple construction paper and wrapped it around a 1-foot-long PVC pipe.

He taped the sides of the construction paper together, taped wings on the bottom of it and made the top airtight. Three-year-old Alex Van Pelt watched.

Goebel made paper rockets and launched them for children Saturday at a tent in front of the Pepsi Bottling Company building next to the Danville Science Center. The bottle rockets were one of the many Independence Day events in Danville. Goebel used an empty 2-liter bottle connected to a bicycle inner tube and PVC pipe to launch the paper rockets.

“Jump on this bottle as hard as you can,” Goebel told Alex.

Alex landed with both feet on the plastic bottle and sent his rocket into the traffic circle in front of the science center.

“I love the bottle rockets,” Alex said. “They shoot way up in the air.”

Alex said he and his family are going to a cookout then to the Danville Braves baseball game later that night.

“You going to shoot it again?” Goebel asked.

“Yes,” Alex said.

And he launched the rocket a few more times.

“You know what Dad’s got to do when he gets home,” a bystander said.

Goebel laughed and explained how to make the launcher.

The bottle rocket launch was the first of many activities at The Crossing at the Dan on Independence Day. Kids launched water bottle rockets later in the afternoon and got into the Danville Science Center for free that evening, said Erin Ganey, who works at the center.

The Community Market also had Independence Day events. Players for the Danville Braves signed autographs there before their game against the Princeton Rays. The market also had an apple pie contest and gave away free hot dogs.

Other celebrators visited the Main Street Cruise In from 6 to 9 p.m. But that wasn’t the only place to be Saturday night.

Carrington Pavilion started its Independence Day celebration at 5 p.m. The pavilion had moonwalks, games and crafts for kids.

Norma Barreiro, 5, stood in between a row of cones holding a beanbag. She shifted her weight and tossed the bag at a board, just missing the hole in the center.

“Almost sweet pea, almost,” said Jose, her dad.

The family moved to Danville a few months ago from New Jersey and was spending their first Independence Day here.

“So far, the hospitality is awesome,” Jose said.

He added that its nothing like New Jersey or New York. They couldn’t wait for the fireworks later in the evening, Jose said.

Commonwealth Home Health Care set up the beanbag toss. Stephanie Anderson held the beanbags and encouraged passers-by to take a toss. She said that the children get four tries to land the bag in the hole.

“No matter if they make it or not, they get a prize,” she said.

Under the blue tent, workers checked blood pressure and handed out temporary tattoos.

Nearby, Marlo the Magician made balloon animals and performed magic tricks.

“Watch out, it’s an anaconda,” he warned one young girl after making a snake for her.

He said he’s lived in Danville for 20 years, and he performs at churches, birthday parties and community events.

He brought balloons by the hundreds Saturday after blowing them up beforehand. Snakes, hats, ducks and swords are a few of the things he made.

Marlo also handed out his business cards. He opened his wallet to grab one but paused when the wallet caught fire after he unfolded it.

“I pride myself in being the only master magician in Southern Virginia,” he said.

Vendors sold slushies, hot dogs, cod, battered mushrooms, funnel cakes, snow cones, nutty buddies and hamburgers.

Vice Mayor T. Wayne Oakes and Rep. Tom Perriello, D-5th District, spoke to the crowd early in the evening. Both men spoke about the history of July 4.

“We all know that when those brave patriots signed that document, they were signing their death warrants,” Perriello said.

He added that the Constitution didn’t fix all the problems of the time.

“It asked us and each generation to step up,” he said.

Local musician Terry Agnor and the Danville Symphony Orchestra performed. The night ended with fireworks, the way every Independence Day should finish.