Sheboygan kicks off Independence Day-weekend events

	Whether it be sinking a cardboard boat, bobbing your head to music, getting together with friends and family or racing plastic ducks down a river, there are plenty of ways people can enjoy themselves over the Fourth of July holiday weekend in Sheboygan County. 	Sheboygan kicks off the party tonight with music at Deland Park and at the riverfront, capped by a Venetian Boat Parade down the Sheboygan River at dusk. The city's parade kicks off at 9 a.m. July 4, winding its way downtown to the lakefront. Next is the annual Art Armada, sponsored by the John Michael Kohler Arts Center. 	'The Art Armada is just a great tradition on the Fourth and it brings family and friends and youth groups and church groups together to work on these projects,' said Missy Keegan, special events coordinator at the arts center. 'It is just a lot of fun to watch the boats race and watch the competitiveness, at the same time, to see how creative people get.' 	Registration for the open division, where boats are made in advance, ended on June 30. However, the castaway division will have registration up until the race, first come, first served, up to 15 teams. The castaway participants will have 90 minutes to construct their boats on the site. 	Sheboygan's first Best Band contest will take place in the South Pier District, with four bands vying for the top spot. Other entertainment will follow at Blue Harbor Resort and Conference Center. The city's fireworks display downtown at the lakefront will begin after dark. 	The American Club is hosting an Independence Day celebration at Ravine Park in Kohler on July 4. Food will be served, starting at 6 p.m. The Kiel Municipal Band will begin its concert at 8:30 p.m. and will play through a fireworks display that will start sometime after 9 p.m. 	'It's like a Norman Rockwell event,' said Kay Miller, special events coordinator at the American Club. 'The kids all get balloons and they run around having a great time. It's very casual, and of course, very safe. We keep the food at really reasonable prices so people can bring their families and having fireworks to music is just a really neat thing.' 	Elkhart Lake has a special event lineup, starting with a concert by 'The Toys' from 8 p.m. until midnight July 4 at Fireman's Park. The fireworks display is scheduled for 9:30 p.m., at which time the band will take a break. Saturday, Oil Can Harry will perform at Fireman's Park from 8 p.m. until midnight. 	The town's parade will be at 11:30 a.m. Sunday, featuring the UW Marching Band. After the parade, the band will perform its 'Fifth Quarter,' also at Fireman's Park. A polka band will then perform from 2 to 5:30 p.m. 	To wrap up the holiday weekend, Ducktona 500 will take place Sunday, July 6 at River Park in Sheboygan Falls. The event will feature a race between 4,500 plastic ducks, floating their way down the Sheboygan River. Top finishers will receive cash prizes. Additionally, there will be Classic Car Show with more than 200 entries, Kiddy Big Wheel Races, pony rides, food, games, music, live entertainment and more. 	'This is a really neat event,' said Nancy Verstrate, executive director of Sheboygan Falls Chamber Main Street. 'About 5,000 people usually attend the event and it is just fantastic. It's just a real family orientated event and there is this great classic car show, lots of food vendors, music and fun things for the kids to do.'