There will be an Old-Fashioned Fourth of July Picnic starting 10 a.m. July 4 at Macungie Memorial Park.

The bicycle/wagon parade begins 10 a.m. There will be a duck race in the creek 11 a.m. Macungie Band will perform 11:30 a.m. in the bandshell. There will also be games and contests for children as well as the annual Bear Swamp Derby/Firecracker 500. Bring your own matchbox type car or purchase one at the picnic. The fire department and ambulance corps will have equipment on display. Macungie Pool will host events outside the pool 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

No reservations are needed to picnic on the grounds but pavilions must be rented in advance. Basketball, baseball and volleyball fields are available but participants must bring their own equipment. For more information, contact dhorner2@juno.com

The Macungie Flower Park is located on Route 100 next to the railroad tracks in the Borough of Macungie. This beautiful garden is in full bloom and needs volunteers to help maintain the flower beds by weeding and removing dead blooms throughout the summer. Volunteers are welcome to come to the park at their convenience and work as long as they wish. A small group has been working Tuesday mornings but additional help is needed. For more information, call the Macungie Institute at 610-966-7830.

The Macungie Farmers Market will be open 4 to 7 p.m. every Thursday through October except Aug. 27.

The market features local family farmers providing homegrown food: fruits, vegetables, meat products, eggs, baked goods, plants and more. Parking is available at the park parking lot and along North Walnut Street.

Macungie Memorial Park is a self-supporting park and depends on events and donations to keep the pool, playground, grounds, ballfields and bathrooms operable. If interested in volunteering to help with upcoming events, contact Amy at 610-966-4289.

Macungie Pool will be open 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. through Labor Day. On weekdays there is Toddler Time 11 a.m. to noon. Swim lessons are available. For information, call 610-966-5757. The pool will close 5 p.m. July 6 and 16 for a Macungie Bears home swim meet.

There will be a Painting in the Park event on the porch of Macungie Memorial Hall 2 to 4 p.m. July 12. Full instructions will be given to paint Kalmbach Barn; no artistic ability is needed. Go to www.faidley.net to register.

The sixth annual Ben Event will take place July 17 and 18 at Macungie Memorial Park. Ben Yorgey was an Emmaus High School graduate/special needs student who died in 2009. Kent and Ardyth Yorgey, Ben's parents, have established the Ben Yorgey Foundation to help graduating high school students with similar disabilities lead independent and productive lives. Each year 10 special education students who most exemplify Ben's love of life and people will receive a scholarship to help the student during his first year after high school.

This year's event will open with WFMZ Sports Director Troy Hein throwing the first pitch at a Special Olympics softball game 6 p.m. Pre-game activities will begin 5:30 p.m. The Iron Pigs Ball Girls will welcome the crowd.

The Ben Event one-mile fun walk will be held immediately following the game at approximately 7:15 p.m. The band The Large Flowerheads will perform music of the 60s starting 8 p.m.

Events July 18 begin with a 5K race 8:30 a.m. (registration 7 a.m.) and a half-mile kid's run 9:20 a.m. Runners can pre-register online at active.com. A kids' fun dash immediately follows the kids' run.

Breakfast in the park will be held 7:30 to 10:30 a.m. A Special Olympics swim meet will be held 10:30 a.m.

Ben's Block Party will take place 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. with carnival games, a petting zoo, pony rides, a DaVinci Science on the Move learning station, face painting, a moon bounce and demonstrations and displays of emergency equipment. A Chinese auction will be held Friday night and Saturday. There will also be a Bear Swamp Derby starting 11 a.m. July 18. Participants interested in practicing for this event can attend the third annual Firecracker 500 at the July 4 Picnic at Macungie Memorial Park. For more information about the Ben Yorgey Foundation, visit www.heyiknowyou. org.

There will be a Wheels of Time Cruise Night 5 to 10 p.m. July 18 at Macungie Memorial Park. Cars can start arriving 3 p.m. Refreshments will be available.

The 52nd annual Das Awkscht Fescht, one of the country's largest antique and classic car shows, will take place July 31 and Aug. 1 and 2 at Macungie Memorial Park.

The featured car is the Chrysler 300.

Gates open 6 a.m. for walk-ins and show cars enter after 7:30 a.m. The flea market remains open until dusk and craft vendors are open until 9 p.m.

Musical entertainment continues until 10:30 p.m. July 31 and Aug. 1. There will be ongoing entertainment in the bandshell throughout the weekend. Other activities during the three-day event include bingo, refreshments, arts, crafts, antiques and collectibles. Kids' activities include entertainers such as magicians, jugglers and clowns, Crayola Corner and a moon bounce. The playground and swimming pool are also open. Fireworks will be featured 9:30 p.m. Aug. 1.

For more information, go to www.awkscht.com.

There will also be an indoor and outdoor toy show Aug. 1 in Macungie. The outdoor show will be held July 31 and Aug. 1 in the parking areas of Shoemaker and Macungie elementary schools and the indoor show will be at Eyer Middle School. Parking is available at 4062 Brookside Road. Transportation to and from Macungie Memorial Park will be provided Aug. 1.

Bus trips to Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs are scheduled July 13. Aug. 17 and Sept. 21 Call the park at 610-966-4289 to reserve a seat.

Zumba Fitness classes are held 7:30 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays at the Macungie Fire Company #1.

The Lower Lehigh Lions Club meets July 14 at Macungie Memorial Park.

Macungie Fire Company meets 7 p.m. July 8 at the social quarters.

The Macungie Fire Company Ladies Auxiliary meets 7 p.m. July 7 and Aug. 4.

Macungie VFW Post 9264 meets 7 p.m. July 13 at the post home on Lehigh Street.

The Ladies Auxiliary of Macungie VFW Post 9264 meets 1 p.m. July 16 at the post home.

Macungie Rod and Gun Club Board meets 7 p.m. July 16 at the club.

Macungie Borough Council meets 7:30 p.m. July 6 and 20 and Aug. 3 at the Macungie Institute.

Macungie Veterans Association meets 8 p.m. July 20 at the post home.

Macungie Senior Citizens meet 1 p.m. July 15 and Aug. 5 at the Macungie Fire Company social hall. There will be guest speakers and bingo. New members are always welcome.

The board of directors meeting for Macungie Memorial Park will be held downstairs 7 p.m. July 28. The public is welcome.

Bingo is held weekly on Saturday evenings at Macungie Memorial Park. Doors open 5 p.m. and games begin 6:45 p.m. For more information, call 610-966-4289.

The next column will be published Aug. 5; copy deadline is July 30.