Time seems to be passing by so fast now. No more than the carnival heads out of town and it is time for the annual Lakefest celebration in Jamestown.

The event, which coincides with the Independence Day holiday each year, is set to be another one to remember and take part in this year.

We anticipate that the city of Jamestown and the Lakefest planning committee will again give us four days of quality entertainment this year.

The committee has been in planning mode since the end of Lakefest last year and with pageants, talent shows, country music group Little Texas, a fireworks display and more, this is shaping up to be another great event.

Lakefest chair Marcelene Taylor, Mayor Terry Lawless, council members, city employees, committe members and Jamestown law enforcement will no doubt have a busy weekend ahead but they do it for their community and their town and we’re thankful to be part of such an event.

We encourage everyone to go out to Monument Square on Thursday and Friday nights and all day Saturday for a plethora of events, food vendors and games. We hope to see everyone there and encourage everyone to remember the true meaning of the Independence Day holiday.

4th of July fun facts:

• Benjamin Franklin wanted the turkey to be the national animal but was outvoted when John Adams and Thomas Jefferson chose the bald eagle.

• Over an estimated 150 million hot dogs will be consumed. That's roughly one dog for every two people in the US.

• Over $211 million has been spent on the importation of fireworks from China.

• The first Fourth of July party held at the White House was in 1801.

• The words Under God were not added to the Pledge of Allegiance until the year 1954.

• More than 74 million Americans will BBQ on the 4th.

• The Fourth of July was not declared a national holiday until 1941.