Coordinators of Ames’ “Spark the Spirit” festival planned for this Fourth of July hope to keep residents in town for the holiday.

“It seems like Ames is fairly transient,” said Jeff Drury, co-chair of Spark the Spirit with the Ames Jaycees. “We just wanted to give the people of Ames a reason to stay in town on the Fourth.”

Festivities for the third-annual celebration begin at 7 a.m. at Brookside Park, with registration for the Fun Run. The day’s activities also include breakfast, mud volleyball, a pet parade, beer garden, children’s games and entertainment.

Drury said the committee hoped the variety of entertainment acts would interest several members of the community, especially students.

“We’re trying to get more people lured in to listen to the bands,” Drury said.

Performers on the main stage will include Larry Myer, Coda and the Taz Band. A community stage will include a martial arts display, the Mirage dance troupe, county dancers, a gymnastic performance and karaoke.

Drury said up to 4,000 people have participated in the Brookside Park activities in past years, and Jaycees hope to have as many this year.

“I guess I’m just really hoping to get a day when it doesn’t rain,” Drury said. He said if it rains on Saturday, coordinators plan to move events to Sunday.

Drury said the park was in good shape for the weekend activities, and that all water and tree limbs should be cleaned up by Saturday.

In addition to the day’s activities, fireworks will be shot from Stuart Smith Park at dusk. Joe Paulson, member of the Ames Jaycees, said the fireworks were funded by the Jaycees, the city of Ames and community members.

“If you sit in the Hilton parking lot, you’re going to have a birds’ eye view of [the fireworks],” Drury said.

Spark the Spirit is supported by media sponsors from the Ames and Des Moines areas, Drury said. Admission to the event is free, but there is a $2 charge to enter the beer garden, which opens at noon.