Happy Birthday America is pleased to announce a "Call for Performers" for the 2018 celebration at Gypsy Hill Park in Staunton. It promises to be an exciting event as we transition back to the ball-field where YOUR band could be selected to perform in front of thousands of fans on July 4th, 2018. Entertainers - Please submit your application at the following site: https://www.happybirthdayamerica.org/applications and click on the "Performer Application" button. All applicants will receive a reply no later than March 1, 2018.

We are so excited for our 2018 event and we know the community will be too!! #happybirthdayamerica http://www.newsleader.com/story/news/local/2017/12/04/stauntons-july-4-returns-gypsy-hill-parks-ballfield/917546001/

We're excited to be taking this wonderful event back to the baseball field at John Moxie Stadium in Gypsy Hill Park in 2018!

BACK TO THE BALLFIELD New organization will return Staunton 4th of July festivities to Gypsy Hill Park baseball field December 4, 2017 STAUNTON, VA – A long-standing Staunton tradition is under new leadership and will be expanding the city’s annual 4th of July festivities by returning to the baseball field at Gypsy Hill Park’s John Moxie Stadium. “Happy Birthday America,” led by cousins Wil and Langdon Reid along with a core group of community leaders, is assuming responsibility for the popular event. Jeff Ishee, former General Manager of the Rockingham County Fair, will serve as president of the organization. America’s Birthday Celebration (ABC) managed the event for numerous years but elected to dissolve itself after the 2017 celebration. Beginning in 2018, the annual event will be known as “Happy Birthday America” and will be the 49th anniversary since the Statler Brothers started the event. "Since this event was born in Staunton in 1970 by the Statlers, it has organically grown and turned into the kind of event that the community is excited about and wants to be involved in,” said Langdon Reid. “That is the vision of this HBA committee; to have fun, entertain, celebrate and all the while the local charities, churches, civic organizations and businesses can benefit from. It's all about the people and the people certainly showed their overwhelming support in 2017's successful celebration." The Reid cousins say they are happy to be involved in an event created by their fathers nearly 50 years ago. "We've seen firsthand how to grow it and make it better each year, and we're so excited to be a part of it to help bring those good times and memories back for so many," added Langdon. "We are so honored and encouraged by the overwhelming support for Wilson Fairchild to return to the stage for Happy Birthday America in 2018,” remarked Wil Reid. “We will headline the event with our band and deliver a high energy show that Staunton became well known for years ago. We have a lot of friends in Nashville and the music business. Our plan is to invite some of our incredibly talented friends to Staunton and have them share their talents in our hometown. In months to come, we'll see what happens!" "It was essential for us to bring the concert back to the baseball field,” observed Wil. “We grew up with all of our 4th of July memories centered around that ballfield. And with the help and support of some great folks with the City of Staunton, our dream came true!" The annual 4th of July celebration has a long history in Staunton’s Gypsy Hill Park. Originally organized by the Statler Brothers in 1970, the event was known as Happy Birthday USA through 1994 and then America’s Birthday Celebration (ABC) from 1995 to 2017. It continues to attract thousands of spectators each year. Hometown folks as well as tourists from across the United States are treated to a patriotic and colorful parade along with good music, food, and fireworks in a family atmosphere. “The City of Staunton has been fortunate to enjoy the benefits of homegrown and well-known talent for our July 4th festivities,” remarked Staunton Mayor Carolyn Dull. “We’re grateful to the ABC committee for their hard work and accomplishments, and they will always be remembered as the group that supported the Statler Brothers’ vision, making Staunton the place to be on Independence Day.” Mayor Dull expressed enthusiasm about the future of the event. “We’re thrilled about the infusion of new energy and ideas through Happy Birthday America and Wil and Langdon Reid, said Dull. “It’s fitting – and exciting – that the sons of two Statler Brothers now continue the tradition. We have great expectations and are looking forward to a sensational Fourth of July celebration in 2018.” “Our newly formed board of directors and key volunteers are eager to take the reins of this popular event,” said Happy Birthday America president Jeff Ishee. “We have assembled a group of talented and highly motivated individuals to serve as directors and committee members for the new organization.” Happy Birthday America has established a web presence at www.happybirthdayamerica.org. Registrations for parade entries, sponsorships, vendors and food concessions for the 2018 event will begin on February 1, 2018.

Get Ready... Big News Coming December 4th

ABC Committee – 8/2017 Press Release On behalf of America’s Birthday Celebration Committee that has been active and diligently working to bring a 4th of July celebration to Staunton, we feel it is time to make some changes with the direction of the event. The success and the excitement from the 2017 event showed that the community is definitely ready to embrace something new. The time is right to turn things over to a fresh roster with new ideas and energy. Wil and Langdon Reid have agreed to take the helm and, building upon the excellent work that has been accomplished in past decades, create new traditions to share with a new generation. Many thank yous and high fives are in order to the ABC Committee for their time and attention for the past 20+ years that they have continued the family-oriented two-day event celebrating the Independence Day holiday. The ABC Committee decided to dissolve their committee, its members and name. A new committee will be formed and named to resume with the planning of a 2018 celebration that will celebrate America’s birthday in the same family-oriented and wholesome tradition of food, fun, music and fireworks that Staunton has come to love. We appreciate everyone’s involvement and support from the community and look forward to what this next chapter will bring!

From the early morning set up, to the parade, the onstage excitement, and even a few fireworks photos! This link has them all. Enjoy! From America's Birthday Celebration to you! Thank you to our photographer, Erin Gnidziejko-Smith. https://photos.app.goo.gl/4nL8gJK5uAmyBnps2

http://www.donreid.net/2017/07/wilsonfairchild-does-it-all/

Thank you for joining us! Look at these Wilson Fairchild fans from VA, WV, NC, SC, TN, FL, KY, IA, DE, Ontario, and where else? Let us know what other states were represented at the show! Edit: Also had fans visiting from PA, MD, MS, TX.

All because of these men-how lucky is Staunton!?!

That was the TV Guide Channel with Wilson Fairchild! Fireworks begin in 40 minutes💥💥