Although Cambria County has celebrated America’s semiquincentennial with several events throughout the year, the headlining event — a July 4 parade and ceremony in Ebensburg Borough — is quickly approaching.

Officials originally planned to have the ceremony take place outside the Cambria County Courthouse. However, because the current roof project has lasted longer than anticipated, officials changed the location to Veterans Park, which is on the corner of Crawford Street and North Center Street, only a few blocks down the courthouse, next to the county’s old stone jail.

During the ceremony, which will occur after the parade, there will be musical performances by the Johnstown Symphony Orchestra, remarks from local officials, readings by the county’s America250PA essay contest winners and two commissioned artwork displays — the Cambria County Liberty Bell and the Cambria County Liberty Torch, which has been passed between each of the county’s participating school districts throughout the year.

According to Danea Koss, Ebensburg’s community development director, the list of keynote speakers includes Cambria County commissioners Scott Hunt, Keith Rager and Tom Chernisky; Judge Gregory Neugebauer; Ebensburg Mayor Randy Datsko; state Sen. Wayne Langerholc Jr., R-Cambria; state Sen. Jim Rigby, R-Cambria/Somerset; and state Rep. Frank Burns, D-Cambria.

The Independence Day parade will have a similar setup to the borough’s Memorial Day parade, Koss said, noting the lineup will begin at the Ebensburg-Cambria Public Library and the parade will make its way through downtown Ebensburg starting about 10 a.m.

“It will be a very similar setup to what we’ve done for Memorial Day as far as the parade and ceremony go,” Koss said. “We would ask everybody to come out and celebrate that with us.”

On Friday, July 3, the city of Johnstown will also hold a parade ceremony in celebration of both America’s 250-year anniversary and the 100-year anniversary of Sargent’s Stadium at the Point, home of the Johns­town Mill Rats.

The parade will begin about 6 p.m., starting on Main Street and ending at Sargent’s Stadium, where a Mill Rats baseball game will be played, featuring a special patriotic ceremony and post-game fireworks.

Free America250 swag will be handed out to those attending the game, according to Visit Johnstown, PA’s website, which outlines the full list of ways Cambria County has celebrated the milestone year.

Rager, who is part of the county’s America250PA committee, previously stated he was impressed by how much the county was able to accomplish leading up to this year’s epic celebration.

The county’s Liberty Bell was painted by Forest Hills High School teacher Carol Cecere and the Liberty Torch was designed and produced by Northern Cambria artist J. Andrew Jacobs, Rager said.

Rager said he was particularly impressed with the county’s essay contest participants, who were encouraged to explore themes of freedom, democracy and the enduring legacy of the Declaration of Independence in their essays.

School district officials picked their top three essays before submitting them to be evaluated by the county’s judges, which consisted of professors from Mount Aloysius, Saint Francis and Pitt-Johnstown, who volunteered their time.

The winning essay writers were given case prizes, but all finalists received certificates of recognition for their essays, officials said while announcing the winners at a commissioners’ meeting in April.

Winners in the high school division were Sheraghana Hall, first place, Richland School District; Fiona Shi, second place, Portage Area School District; and Gracie Parrando, Ferndale Area School District and Kelly Mullen, Westmont Hilltop School District, who were tied for third place.

Winners in the middle school division were Kaylee Paronish, first place, Richland School District; Makenzie Giuffre, second place, Conemaugh Valley School District; and Catherine Messina, third place, Westmont Hilltop School District.

Last year, county officials kicked off their celebration by planting a Liberty Tree at Sandyvale Memorial Gardens in Johnstown, which has great historical significance, as several Revolutionary War veterans are buried there, officials said.

However, the celebration doesn’t end on July 4. People have been encouraged to explore local trails on foot or by bike and log their miles toward a 250-mile goal as part of the Cambria County Conservation and Recreation Authority’s 250-mile challenge.

Eligible activities include walking, running, hiking, biking, snowshoeing and cross-county skiing on designated pedestrian trails by Dec. 31.

People wishing to participate can pick up a copy of the official challenge log at the Prince Gallitzin State Park office or by visiting https://tinyurl.com/cc250miles.

Mirror Staff Writer Matt Churella is at 814-946-7520.