By SHAWN STREET
shawn@virginiamediainc.com
Celebrations in honor of 250 years of independence got underway last weekend in Honaker. The parties continue this weekend throughout Russell County.
The Town of Cleveland will show its patriotism on Friday, July 3. The town’s annual Independence Day festivities will get underway at 5:00 p.m. and the Cleveland Ball Field.
The Brittany Mullins Band will be performing during the event. The celebration will also include The Magic of Eugene Mullins, one of the nation’s top escape artists.
Registration for the cornhole tournament will get underway at 5:00 p.m., with the tournament beginning at 5:30 p.m. Registration fees are $20 per team.
Lineup for the parade will begin at 5:00 p.m. at the old town hall location. The parade is scheduled to get underway at 5:45 p.m. Fireworks are scheduled to light up the sky beginning at sundown.
St. Paul’s celebration will begin on July 3 with the Super Smash Brothers Tournament at the Lyric Theater. That event will be held from 6:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m.
The following day will see a pancake breakfast at the St. Paul United Methodist Church from 8:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. The St. Paul pool will have free admission from 12:00 p.m. until 4:00 p.m.
St. Paul’s July 4 parade will begin at 4:30 p.m. with the town celebration getting underway at 5:00 p.m. at Miner’s Exchange Bank. Live music, bingo, cake walks and a variety of food vendors will be a part of the celebration. Fireworks are scheduled to begin at sundown.
Lebanon’s celebration will also be on July 4. The annual parade will roll through town beginning at 10:00 a.m.
Judge Don McGlothlin will serve as the 2026 parade Grand Marshal. A graduate of Grundy Senior High School, McGlothlin has been a resident of Russell County since 1989.
McGlothlin is also a graduate of the college of William and Mary, as well as the Marshall-Wythe School of Law.
McGlothlin has three sons – Sean, Nathan and Ryan. He is married to Tracy Fletcher McGlothlin.
He has practiced law in Southwest Virginia since 1973 and served as first Substitute Judge of the 29th Judicial District for a decade before being elected Circuit Court Judge, a position he held for 16 years.
McGlothlin currently practices law and conducts mediation and arbitration of disputes in Virginia, Tennessee and North Carolina.
A performance of the “Star Spangled Banner” will take place on the grounds of Lebanon Middle School following the parade. Free cupcakes will be available, provided by the Lebanon Lions Club.
The Heart of Appalachia Community Orchestra will perform at noon inside Lebanon Middle School.
Divine Glory will perform on the grounds of Lebanon Middle School beginning at 1:30 p.m. and followed by Scott Mullins.
Russell Theatre will be honoring the nation’s history with a special playing of “American Heritage with David Barton” at 3:30 p.m.
More than 50 vendors and food trucks are expected to be hand throughout the day.
The party will move to Tommy Bryant Stadium with a performance by Steele Cook’n at 6:30 p.m. Ricochet will headline the stage at 8:00 p.m.
Fireworks are expected to light up the sky over Lebanon at dark.