Uncle Sam needs you! Volunteers needed to wear costumes for living history exhibit at local July 4 event!

Ever wanted to be a part of history?

If that’s the case then Uncle Sam, or at least the guy who normally plays Uncle Sam  locally (Barry Frazier), wants you to participate in a local event.

Frazier is looking for individuals interested in wearing costumes of historical figures for a living history exhibit at the Gateway 250 event July 4.

The people in the historic costumes will greet people as they enter the event at Cunningham Field and mingle amongst the crowd to explain their significance in history.

Frazier has a number of historic costumes, but needs help filling some of them.

Organizers of the event shared at a meeting June 19 that with the celebration fast approaching, more volunteers are needed for a number of jobs.

They say any group or individuals interested in volunteering their time is welcome.

Mayor Al Botts said he has already received a commitment from Shepherd’s Shelter to provide volunteers for the event.

People are needed for parking and directing traffic among other things, organizers said.

If you are interested in volunteering, you can contact the Mt. Sterling-Montgomery County Tourism Office at 859-487-8732 or mstourism@mis.net.

Gates are scheduled to open at 4:30 p.m. with fireworks at dusk. There is a full day of musical entertainment planned featuring performances by Young at Heart Big Band, 75 Split, Nero’s Fiddle, Dead Air Dennis and the Bryan Himes Experience, Billie Renee and Cumberland Gap and the 202nd Army Band from the Kentucky National Guard.

Eleven food vendors have also signed up and there will be eight inflatables in the children’s area. Combat veteran Joey Bates is scheduled to be the featured speaker.

The event is free other than food.

Visitors are encouraged to bring lawn chairs or blankets and are allowed to bring their own food in coolers if they like. No glass bottles or alcohol are allowed.

Tourism Director Tracy Pearce said she is expecting a big crowd with Mt. Sterling having one of the few celebrations on the July 4 date itself. Other communities have events scheduled on different days or the prior weekend.

There is a Sunday, July 5, rain date for the Mt. Sterling event.